IL: Skokie, CTA Offer Free Parking, Special Ceremony for Yellow Line's Return

[marmar]

IL: Skokie, CTA Offer Free Parking, Special Ceremony for Yellow Line's Return

MIKE ISAACS ON OCT 21, 2015
SOURCE: MCCLATCHY


Oct. 21--When the CTA's Yellow Line train service resumes Oct. 30, riders who get on at the Dempster Street Skokie Swift station will not have to worry about parking fees -- at least not for awhile.

Providing free parking at the Dempster station for the rest of the year is one of the "significant outreach efforts" to be undertaken by the village and the CTA to induce riders back to the Yellow Line, both parties say.

A ceremonial first ride with dignitaries Oct. 30 and free Yellow Line rides for a week following the return of service are also being planned, according to the CTA.

The Yellow Line went down in May due to an embankment collapse, causing inconvenience all summer long to riders who use the train. Many riders have said that the shuttle buses added significant time to their commutes. Some downtown Skokie retailers reported noticeable decline in business while others said they were not impacted.

"We appreciate the continued community support for the numerous businesses near the Yellow Line stations that rely on commuters as customers, and we hope that ridership will quickly return to the levels attained before the unfortunate service interruption," Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said last week in a prepared statement. ................(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12128870/skokie-cta-offer-free-parking-special-ceremony-for-yellow-lines-return

[KamaAina]

1. The free parking is an indictmnent of PACE suburban buses

While the Dempster station, as far northwest as the Chicago L goes, is a major hub for PACE, it obviously isn't good enough if people are driving to the station. This is the L, not Metra commuter rail.