Probably a month ago. But yes, I would agree West Loop and Fulton Market is insane now.

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Nobody has the courage to admit it, but I just mind-fucked a bunch of folks here, they about to rip up their Metra monthly's and log into SpotHero.

Yeah, there's that skyscraper going up where the Union Station parking garage used to be, that might squeeze some other parking out.

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whoever can build cars that can float/fly can solve all the issues by making use of the unlimited imaginary roads that can be created in the air.. then some massive computer will control all air traffic and we dont have to worry about metra.

watch "The fifth element" for guidance on what it could look like

you're more delusional than july's when she believes she can cartwheel still

Nice to see the second half of Dumb and Dumber join the conversation .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

What if Metra did kind of a hybrid system where you tapped in as you boarded and tapped out on the platforms (failure to tap out would be an automatic max charge)? I know people board in crowds, but the doors are narrow enough that you could watch for people not paying. Works for the bus, I've never cheated a bus.

Or just tap in and out on the platforms like Florida does. Works fine there.

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Probably because the bus driver is right there ? What device are you using for this tapping in and out ? Are you assuming everyone wants a ticket ( Or is forced to buy a ticket ) on their phone or electronically ?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

Contactless farecards, i.e., Ventra cards. I'm just telling you what another system does.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Where is the reader for that located ? On the train itself ? A kiosk near where you board ?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

Tri-Rail has little pylons on the platforms. If the technology has advanced such that you could mount the readers on the walls, do that instead.

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Ok , I forgot my card today . How does that make me pay or prevent me from boarding ?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

Have kiosks at each of the stations. Pay and it prints out something you can scan while boarding the train.

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Union boss badcop is an expert at shooting down technical improvements so Bensenville Bill can pull down $130K year as a ticket taker.

Just write it off.

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No what I’m asking is who ensures that you pay ? Is there still a conductor checking your stub or whatever ? I though the idea was to do away with someone having to do that job ?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

I've never forgotten my Tri-Rail card (I have Chicago, SoFla, New York, and DC farecards in my wallet now, hey, just in case I'm ever back in town on the last two) but since the stations have vending machines for cards, I assume they also print one-time paper tickets like the L does.

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Have every non paying fare taken out of the conductor's salary.

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just pay the conductors a bonus for evey cheater they find. BOOM. problem solved immediately.

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

Weekdays SpotHero is more expensive than parking garage's own early-bird specials. You have no idea what you're talking about.

I drove downtown from SE DuPage county for about 14 years. I tried being a good transit citizen and tried taking the train for 2 years, because I had taken the train for a few years when I lived in Elmhurst.

It was a waste of fucking time and money to take the train. The worst was when I'd get to Downers Grove Main street and all the park and ride spots were filled, so I'd end up having to drive anyway and be late for work.

Since I moved away, I've been going into my old office every six or seven weeks when I'm here visiting my dad. In the summer, I took Metra, because he'd drop me off and pick me up, and the walk was somewhat pleasant. Today, I said fuck it and drove his car downtown, and paid $25 for SpotHero valet (plus $5 tip) at the hotel across the street from the office. So much better, since I left Lombard at 6:15am and the Eisenhower hadn't become a parking lot yet.

The worst part about Metra is that if you don't take a really early train in the morning, or get to Union Station 15 minutes before the train leaves in the afternoon, you are paying $11-14 RT plus $3-4 to park for the privilege of standing for 35 minutes each way. But Metra is somewhat constrained based on the lease deals they have with the freight railroads, so there isn't much more they can do about frequencies.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

SpotHero is more expensive than lots before 7am, unless you are going to leave before noon since many of the early bird lots require a 4-5 hour minimum for cash parkers. It is generally much cheaper if you get downtown after 8:30am.

Today I paid $25 for a hotel SpotHero because they were predicting snow, 7:30-5:30. The same hotel valet is $66 otherwise. But if I had been willing to walk three blocks, I could have parked at a really nice valet garage (Franklin and Monroe) for about $22 without SpotHero, and if I had gotten there before 7 it would have been about $19.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

METRA FARE EVASION PLAN IS IN EFFECT

Conductor announced Metra's revolutionary fare evasion plan was in effect his morning. The plan consisted of....*drumroll*.....the conductors checking everyone's ticket even if they previously showed their ticket.

MANY C+ zoners were annoyed.

"Tickets...tickets...tickets...again!"

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I wait to show my ticket before playing CoC. If they come by again while I am raiding, I will lose my shit.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Which appears to be "MAKE THE CONDUCTORS DO THEIR JOBS"

How novel.

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Anyone get caught ?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

Of course not, it's the UP-N line. If anything, these knobs would snitch on their fellow rider.

The other day I showed the conductor my laminated act of contrition and he nodded and kept going.

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