Good point. Let's shut Metra down and put 280,000 cars on the road so we can generate more taxes.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

If Metra cut costs, laid off most of their conductors, invested in swipe in/out gates, they could offer lower fares, expanded schedules, better train amenities and attract even more riders.

You asked why your taxes go to roads you never use. I'm pointing out that they pretty much don't.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'll concede the point.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I'm a big transit guy, but you're pretty much right. A comprehensive suburban bus system doesn't make much sense anymore if it ever did. There will need to be SOME suburban bus routes, but you could probably cut a lot of them and not miss a beat.

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you know you have to be pretty poor/blind/whatever to be riding those suburban buses. are you guys really that much of assholes that you'd take that away from them?. Bob - we know your answer already.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Because they were deliberately kept artificially low by Phil Pagano so no one would look into what he was doing?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

metra buys 20 year-old locomotives that are too unreliable for Amtrak to use anymore. Then you wonder why the trains don't run on time. some of the cars are 50 years old. The Feds made them put in this automatic train control system that cost hunnerds of millions and serves absolutely no purpose.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I believe the MTA commuter lines have much steeper fares, especially during rush hours, but they also have nicer trains than we do, most if not all electrified. They're not like 50 years old like ours.

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Me and Hatch are the only ones who read On the Bilevel .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

You're taking a very narrow view. Dunno if an analysis has been performed but Metra is a net positive by bringing thousands of passengers downtown. People need to get to work.

Vehicle commuters should be thankful they're subsidizing Metra.

Imagine Caller Bob doing such a thing! Shocking.

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It's practically the same price to drive to Chicago vs train

A round trip from Naperville to Chicago is $14(you do get a discount if you buy 10 ride or monthly).
If you are willing to park in the outskirts of the loop you can get daily parking for this or cheaper.

So your only variance is gas which is what 2-3 gallons depending on your car's mileage. Of course, don't forget you need gas to get to the metra station and you also have to pay to park at the station.
The only downside is traffic is a bitch but being able to leave on your own schedule and not having to share space will smelly people balances that out.


Public transportation should always be significantly cheaper, it's fucked up that Metra really doesn't offer that much cost savings.

Only downside is traffic

Clown

That's a 70 mile round trip! The going rate for car expenses is like 50 cents/mile.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

If your job lets you do a super early shift (6-3) you can often beat the worst.

Maintenance, depreciation, boredom, gasoline, parking, weather, traffic, mental health, etc. etc. etc.

It makes 0% sense.

simpleton bob solves complex funding problems by ignoring 99% of the variables

I addressed the gasoline and parking variables directly. With gas (relatively) cheap the cost trade-off is very close. Never mind you public transportation should always be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than private.

The gas used from driving to Naperville to the Loop 4-5 days a week is going to be more than a Metra monthly pass. That's not the mention any of the other maintenance costs associated with owning a car.

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Throw in this idiotic parking idea that Simple Bob has that has you still paying $10 ( minimum) to park at some shitty lot nowhere near your office where you then either hoof it ( and sweat or freeze your balls off depending on the time of year ) or pay to get to your office from the lot . I know you’re too stupid to just take the El in threads Bob but you should probably bow out of this one and take your imbecilic thoughts elsewhere .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

hey , here's a timely op-ed from the CEO of CMAP, our area planning overlords, advising how our taxing system sucks for funding services

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/forum-ideas-taxes/give-communities-more-leeway-raising-revenue-sharing-state-funds

they could just build a 280,000 car parking lot in Grant Park.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Early bird special ain't bad, under 20$... Anything past that is gonna cost 35-50$ a day.

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Depending on where your office is and where your train drops you off(Union, Ogelby, Board of Trade(rock island) you still can be walking a shit ton.

You know for a supposed Trump-loving Republican, BadCop sure loves to support the Chicago-Union-Democratic machine.

I haven't worked downtown since 2014, but when I had to drive I was usually able to find free parking in West Loop. It might be a challenge now because of the massive growth in that area, but it worked for me back then.

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I’m a complex individual Bob .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Yep, Welfare Queen Rogue loves sucking the government teat.

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holy crap, when's the last time you've been there? Its the most insane place in the entire city now.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest