Comments on: Independence Day http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/03/independence-day/ Mass Transit's editor, Fred Jandt, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:44:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Valerie Greenleaf http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/03/independence-day/#comment-4660 Valerie Greenleaf Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:51:14 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/03/independence-day/#comment-4660 My children and I visited my family in Arlington Heights, IL for their 4th of July festival as we do every year. As we had the day free on Thursday, July 3rd, we decided to 'hop the train' to Chicago. For five adults and one child the cost for unlimited rides all day the 3rd and the 4th of July was only $15. My parents, who are senior citizens, were free of charge as was my 8 year old son since he was accompanying a fare paying adult. Had we decided to drive into the Windy City, the $15 would not have covered either the gas or the parking, let alone both. Once we arrived in the city, we were able to take the free trolleys to any of the city's main tourist destinations. As we waited in the very clean Ogilvie Transportation Center for our train back to the suburbs, we heard announcements of added trains out on two of the lines in their effort to reduce crowding on the trains. We had absolutely no complaints regarding either form of public transportation we took that day. Living in rural Wisconsin, with it's lack of public transportation, we were even more appreciative of the excellent service we received at an excellent price. Kudos to the transit authority in Chicago!! My children and I visited my family in Arlington Heights, IL for their 4th of July festival as we do every year. As we had the day free on Thursday, July 3rd, we decided to ‘hop the train’ to Chicago. For five adults and one child the cost for unlimited rides all day the 3rd and the 4th of July was only $15. My parents, who are senior citizens, were free of charge as was my 8 year old son since he was accompanying a fare paying adult. Had we decided to drive into the Windy City, the $15 would not have covered either the gas or the parking, let alone both.

Once we arrived in the city, we were able to take the free trolleys to any of the city’s main tourist destinations. As we waited in the very clean Ogilvie Transportation Center for our train back to the suburbs, we heard announcements of added trains out on two of the lines in their effort to reduce crowding on the trains. We had absolutely no complaints regarding either form of public transportation we took that day. Living in rural Wisconsin, with it’s lack of public transportation, we were even more appreciative of the excellent service we received at an excellent price.

Kudos to the transit authority in Chicago!!

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