CTA Adding Redbox Kiosks to "L" Stations

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 19, 2011 10:40PM

The Chicago Transit Authority sent out a press release today announcing that they would be adding Redbox kiosks at "L" stations so commuters may rent movies and video games, as part of an effort to distract people from late trans offer passengers more amenities.

The first two of 11 Redbox kiosks have been installed at the Wellington Brown Line station and the Blue Line UIC-Halsted Station. Stations set to have Redbox kiosks installed will include the Polk Pink Line; Jackson Blue Line; 47th Street Red Line; 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line; Fullerton and Belmont Red/Brown/Purple Line; Loyola Red Line; Damen Brown Line; and the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line.

The program follows what CTA calls multiple suggestions fielded by Mayor Rahm Emanuel when he asked for citizen input for the 2012 City budget. CTA President Forrest Claypool said:

“Many Chicagoans asked for Redbox kiosks. It has been a goal of my administration to have an open conversation with our riders to help improve service throughout the system.”

Has Claypool talked to us, we would have suggested getting the trains and buses to run more efficiently before installing Redbox kiosks. Hopefully the "non-fare revenue" to be generated from this program goes towards that. Otherwise, it may be a long cold winter waiting for a bus to get people home to watch those movies they missed the first time in the theaters.