CTA Musings

As I scan my surroundings on the inbound Blue Line train from O'Hare Airport, I'm delighted by how -- regardless of where I am in the world -- mass transit has yet to disappoint as a source of inspiration (see previous musings on BART and MUNI).

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train car 3061 is packed during the evening commute, the cosmopolitan crowd donning more layers of clothing than we'd see in SF even on the coldest summer day -- dark pea coats, some adorned with faux fur collars; and matching wool hats and scarves.

Every few minutes, the smooth voice of "CTA guy" rings out clearly over the din of the rumbling locomotive...

*Ding Dong* "Doors closing. Irving Park is next. Doors open on the left at Irving Park."

Posters along the curved ceiling advertise "Fraken Plaza at Washington & Dearborn (www.chicagoween.us)"; the Chicago History Museum, with beckoning portraits of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Benito Juárez of U.S. and Mexico; and the Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Homes Expo '09.

"Please be considerate when talking on the phone or listening to electronic devices, so as not to disturb other customers."

Above each train door hangs a map of either the Blue Line route or the entire multicolored "L" system.

"This...is Irving Park."

Ears plugged with headphones are just as commonplace in this crowd, but there are noticeably fewer white ear buds distinctive of Apple's i-products that pervade the SF Bay Area.

"Please keep your belongings off the seat next to you so that others may sit down."

Throughout our journey, we're beating the rush hour traffic on the freeway next to us. We descend briefly into a tunnel where stationary fluorescent tubes pulse like strobe lights as we roar past. Then the volume drops suddenly as we emerge into the dim evening.

*Ding Dong* "Doors closing. Damen is next. Doors open on the right at Damen."

"Standing passengers, please do not lean against the doors."

We soon pull up next to a platform that is identified not only with the station name, but also the location's grid number.

"This...is Damen."