Oil Issue

[lostfan]

My dad told me the CTA is seriously considering extending the Red Line out to 130th or so.

[NorthSideSox72]

My dad told me the CTA is seriously considering extending the Red Line out to 130th or so.

Yeah, that's been one that's been discussed for a while. That, the Silver Line (CTA belt line basically), an extension of the Green or Blue to Oak Brook, a single individual light rail from Oak Brook to the BNSF Metra, and an extension of the Yellow Line to Old Orchard. The CTA has talked about all those, but the only one that I've seen actual plans underway for is that Silver Line.

 

[BigSqwert]

My dad told me the CTA is seriously considering extending the Red Line out to 130th or so.

They've been considering this for the last 2 decades.

[lostfan]

They've been considering this for the last 2 decades.

Yeah, but they're talking about it for real for real this time, meaning like if they got funding, it'd actually happen. Of all the possible CTA extensions I think this one is the most needed. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the whole South Side isn't covered by rail.

[NorthSideSox72]

Yeah, but they're talking about it for real for real this time, meaning like if they got funding, it'd actually happen. Of all the possible CTA extensions I think this one is the most needed. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the whole South Side isn't covered by rail.

Well, that's not the case. Red Line to 95th, Green Line to 63rd, Orange Line to Midway. The south side is not AS covered as the north side though, so that's a strong argument to make. I wonder if that has more to do with expected ridership than anything else, though.

 

Or did you mean that you think rail should cover the whole south side? Because there are all sorts of neighborhoods all around the city that aren't.

 

[lostfan]

Well, that's not the case. Red Line to 95th, Green Line to 63rd, Orange Line to Midway. The south side is not AS covered as the north side though, so that's a strong argument to make. I wonder if that has more to do with expected ridership than anything else, though.

 

Or did you mean that you think rail should cover the whole south side? Because there are all sorts of neighborhoods all around the city that aren't.

You do bring up a good point, and yes, I do think the whole south side should be somewhat close to rail, NYC is the perfect model. There's just not enough money to do that though right now barring a major shift in priorities at all levels of government, so it would be based on priorities. From 95th on south to 136th, 138th or wherever the city stops there is no rail coverage whatsoever. This is a significant chunk of the city, it's about 5 miles, and it's one of the parts of the city that needs it the most and has been waiting in line the longest. The bus coverage isn't too great either compared to the other chunks out southwest that don't have rail.

 

BTW I think you misinterpteted what I meant by "the whole South side," I just meant the farthest south section has the weakest public transportation coverage.

Edited May 21, 2008 by lostfan

[Y2HH]

Well, that's not the case. Red Line to 95th, Green Line to 63rd, Orange Line to Midway. The south side is not AS covered as the north side though, so that's a strong argument to make. I wonder if that has more to do with expected ridership than anything else, though.

 

Or did you mean that you think rail should cover the whole south side? Because there are all sorts of neighborhoods all around the city that aren't.

 

I wouldn't want to take the red-line from that direction anyway, considering the neighborhoods it travels through...

 

I'd sooner drive a Hummer at 9-10mpg than ride that train that direction/distance at night during the winter.

[lostfan]

I wouldn't want to take the red-line from that direction anyway, considering the neighborhoods it travels through...

 

I'd sooner drive a Hummer at 9-10mpg than ride that train that direction/distance at night during the winter.

For someone that lives in the city I'm surprised you'd actually think that. That reminds me of the girl from ND that was talking to me and another guy from NYC and said "well at least you don't get mugged living in ND." The Red Line's dirty stations might look intimidating but it's no different than taking the subway in NYC, and the people that ride it are just everyday people going to work/school/whatever.

[Y2HH]

For someone that lives in the city I'm surprised you'd actually think that. That reminds me of the girl from ND that was talking to me and another guy from NYC and said "well at least you don't get mugged living in ND." The Red Line's dirty stations might look intimidating but it's no different than taking the subway in NYC, and the people that ride it are just everyday people going to work/school/whatever.

 

From Pershing to 95th -- no thanks. And I've never been the NY, and I probably wouldn't ride the subway in some of those hoods if I knew any better, either.

[NorthSideSox72]

From Pershing to 95th -- no thanks. And I've never been the NY, and I probably wouldn't ride the subway in some of those hoods if I knew any better, either.

And those lines wouldn't be for you anyway. It would be for the people who live in those areas, getting to work/school/whatever, primarily.

 

[lostfan]

From Pershing to 95th -- no thanks. And I've never been the NY, and I probably wouldn't ride the subway in some of those hoods if I knew any better, either.

I used to ride the Red Line every day, and my dad is a conductor on it. Besides the general cleanlines (it's the busiest line) and the occasional drunken bum or obnoxious group of teenagers it's no different than any other line, and I've been on all of them more than once except the Yellow line. It's not like people from those neighborhoods regularly get on the train and start selling drugs and robbing people. If I lived there and the Red Line was an option to me I'd use it.

 

But like NSS72 said, the line is there for people who live and work in that part of the city.

[Balta1701]

Me personally, I get 25 mpg, whatever car I buy next is going to be over 30 if I can help it. No public transportation goes to where I work, and I live a little too far for it to be practical for me to walk or bike to work. But if I lived within 5 miles like I used to, I'd do it. So I just have to brace myself for the body blows and live with it until I can figure out a better way.

On your next vehicle...please consider waiting a couple years and then look in to the plug-in hybrids when they're available.

 

Most people go less than 40 miles per day while driving. If you can run a car on a battery for the first 40 miles, which is I believe the goal on the Chevy volt, then you can charge the vehicle at night and drive it during the day without using up any oil. For longer trips you still have the hybrid engine to run things.

 

In terms of total energy, this nation consumes 7 times or so as much energy for movement as it does for electricity generation because it's vastly more efficient to generate electricity in large plants than it is to generate energy in small internal combustion engines, so even if you're using energy from coal plants (hopefully eventually solar and wind take over that role), a workable plug-in hybrid system fueling this country would drive oil demand through the floor and cut our energy needs by a factor of several.

 

You want to solve this energy crisis thing? There's the biggest part of your solution.

[lostfan]

On your next vehicle...please consider waiting a couple years and then look in to the plug-in hybrids when they're available.

I bought this car brand new so I'm running the damn thing until its tires fall off. I'm getting my money's worth, dammit.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I'd like to add to that one... give up plastic bags (or charge customers 5 cents per bag, like Ikea does)

My wife bought 6 cloth bags that we take with us everywhere we do our grocery shopping.

[Iwritecode]

That is really my pet peeve. I can't stand it, yet so many people do it. I always ask 2 things to people when they complain, either out loud or silently to myself.

 

1. Do you have a SUV or a big pickup with poor gas mileage?

 

Yes but I rarely drive it. In fact, it sat in my driveway pretty much all winter long. We only use it when we need the extra room for something or we are pulling our trailer.

 

2. Do you live in the city? If yes, is public transportation accessible to you? If yes, do you use it at least on occasion? If the answer to all 3 questions is no, again, I have to wonder about your mentality and whether or not you think people owe you something.

 

Yes, no, no.

 

I drive 40 miles one-way to get to work. But my gas consumption has decreased signifigantly in the last 2 years. First, my company lets me work from home one day a week. Second, we bought a new car that gets much better gas mileage than the old minivan I was driving.

 

So I'm somewhat doing my part. B)

 

[Iwritecode]

Here's one:

 

The largest supermarket chains give up plastic bags.

 

The store we do 90% of our grocery shopping at doesn't even have paper bags...

[lostfan]

Yes but I rarely drive it. In fact, it sat in my driveway pretty much all winter long. We only use it when we need the extra room for something or we are pulling our trailer.

 

 

 

Yes, no, no.

 

I drive 40 miles one-way to get to work. But my gas consumption has decreased signifigantly in the last 2 years. First, my company lets me work from home one day a week. Second, we bought a new car that gets much better gas mileage than the old minivan I was driving.

 

So I'm somewhat doing my part. B)

Then you are actively trying to reduce your gas consumption, which is the basis of anything I say, so that's legit. My annoyance is mostly directed at single people who drive bigass Tahoes or Suburbans (like my best friend) who have no need for them but still burn gas like crazy and wonder why they have to pay so much.