CTA – Ride At Your Own Risk

Last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune reported on the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the derailment of a Chicago Transit Authority subway train on July 11, 2006. (Also see here.) According to the article, the investigation found tracks out of alignment, call boxes which did not work, a balky ventilation system (the derailment was underground), inadequate track inspections, incomplete and false safety documentation, and more. Reading the article left one amazed that nothing worse has happened on the CTA recently. The apparent disregard for the safety of the passengers riding the CTA is shocking. Even more shocking, though, is what will likely happen in response to this report: not much, if anything at all.

While the problem is probably worse because this is Illinois (not exactly the home of good, clean government), I would suggest this article be read by anyone who thinks government can solve our problems. In Chicago it can’t even be trusted to run a safe subway.