The Chicago Transit Authority’s long-rumored Doomsday has finally come. Starting on February 8, bus routes and trains across the city saw steep reductions in service, corresponding with the layoffs of over one thousand CTA employees. Though some cuts may be overturned quickly thanks to renewed talks between agency officials and transit unions, the city’s $95-million shortfall won’t be easily patched over. With some changes likely to remain permanent, however, there’s not yet a clear picture of how Chicago’s transportation system will really be affected.
A new project from University of Chicago graduates Max Shron and Luke Joyner aims to create just such a picture. Their “heat maps” of the service changes are now online at their website Picturing Transit (picturingtransit.com). Read the rest of this entry »
