By Lamont Lynn
A version of this was originally published as a letter to the editor in the Sun-Times. The link has died, so at the request of the author we are enthusiastically reposting it here.
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1. No commuter should be subjected to being held hostage between stops no longer then 12 minutes.
2. If passengers have been in-between stops for 30 minutes or more, they should be given 7-day passes and free transfers to the next bus or train if their transfers have expired due to the delay.
3. If passengers are delayed not because of weather or track work, riders should be given fare cards of $5 or a 1-day pass which would cover a daily round-trip from work to home.
4. If the CTA cancels trains or changes schedules of arrival or departure times at stations, passengers should be made aware of the changes and new updated schedules should be posted no later than the first train’s arrival or departure at the station.
5. If the CTA cannot post new effective schedules or communicate with passengers about a train being cancelled or delayed at its scheduled arrival or departure tims, passengers should be given $5 dollars on a transit card or 1-day pass. Although this cannot cover lost wages, it is a start.
6. If the CTA is late more then 13 minutes past its estimated commute time between the first stop and last stop on its line in more than three successive runs, the CTA should give riders a 1-day pass.
7. The CTA should guarantee two trains per eight trains that are clean per line at morning and evening rush.
8. If the CTA is experiencing significant delays of 20 minutes or more on one line, it should let the affected passengers on free during this time.
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Comments, revisions, amendments, additions welcome.
Posted on September 23, 2008