Showing discrimination against Chicago's Westside, the CTA Green Line is its only rail line without parallel bus service within 1/8 mile.
Over public outcry, this bus was eliminated in 1997. Since 2004 FMA has fought to restore it. FMA led the effort to build the CTA Morgan Station in 2012, the main catalyst for the Market's resurgence.
With gas prices and Fulton Market traffic congestion out of control, restoring this bus - - and linking it to downtown METRA stations - - would solve some of the Market's traffic problems.
Regarding Fulton Market METRA access now, McDonald's Corp. 110 N. Carpenter St., the Google Building 1000 W. Fulton St. and other buildings run about 10 daily bus shuttles to METRA stations because there is no Lake St. bus. Often, these shuttles park illegally and block traffic.
Restoring the CTA Lake St. bus would remove the need for these shuttles, boost essential Westside service, improve Fulton Market safety, and improve Chicago's environment.
Consider the mega investments in Fulton Market by businesses like City Winery, Dispensary 33, Gioia Ristorante, Lou Malnati's Restaurant, Art + Science Hair Salon, Macello Ristorante, Alhambra Restaurant and other businesses near the Racine St. and Lake St. intersection. Their customers - - especially women, children and people with disabilities - - shouldn't be forced to walk 1/4 mile from the nearest possible CTA Green Line Stations to get there.
For all other CTA lines, a parallel bus would connect riders between stations. But not in Fulton Market or the Westside. If we want people to ride CTA, they need basic, fundamental service.
Why did CTA kill this bus in 1997? They needed to buy special narrow buses to navigate between the narrow Lake St. Structure Columns from Talman Ave. to Laramie Ave. This is the most dangerous street in America and the only street-configuration of its kind in all of Illinois.
Instead of moving the center columns to the sidewalks - - like City Hall moved the columns in the Downtown and Fulton Market areas under the Green Line - - CTA instead killed the Lake St. bus! Outrageous.
These narrow columns west of Western Ave. cause life-threatening and sometimes life-ending vehicle accidents. See shocking videos at www.fixthewestside.com. CTA must re-buy special buses to navigate this structure (even mini-buses will do!) and restore this bus immediately.
With mega federal and state infrastructure funds available, Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot must fix this Structure for the first time since 1896 and end this outrageous Westside discrimination. In 1896, vehicles weren't invented! Now we're driving modem vehicles and trucks through this Structure? If you haven't tried it before, do it. It's a horrific experience - - and the only one of its kind in all of Illinois.
Thank you for your consideration.
Roger Romanelli
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