TRANSIT NEWS SEPTEMBER, 1965 CTA'S GROSS revenues for 1964 totaled $134,144,- The report pointed out that a gratifying recovery 196, an increase of $63,978 over 1963, but operat- in employment in the Chicago area during 1965 re- ing and maintenance expense s totaled $115,930,480, versed the downward trend in riding and resulted an increase of $719,323 over 1963 according to the in an increase in revenue passengers in the last .1 annual report by Chicago Transit Board issued re- quarter period of 2.0%. The report also noted that cently. the inauguration of Skokie Swift operation on April 20, 1964, the assignment of the new air-conditioned Though sufficient revenues remain available to 2000 series cars on the Lake street and Douglas- meet all debt service requirements, they fell Milwaukee rapid transit route apparently caused an $590,627 short of meeting the requirements for upswing in riding on this service. New equipment depreciation. However, $239,605 had remained and improved service have also contributed to a available after meeting all requirements from the small increase in surface system riding. Over one previous period, leaving a net deficiency of $351, - million riders were carried on the Skokie Swift 022 in meeting full depreciation requirements at during the eight months of operation in 1964. years end. There were a number of major improvement proje cts started or completed during 1964, among Passenger Revenues Decline them: Rebuilding and repairing of the structure, plat- Passenger revenues of $131,117,302 for 1964 form, station building and facilities of the 35th decreased $688,886 from 1963. A loss of $1,762,- street station of the North-South "L"-subway route 317 (0.36%) in originating revenue passengers ac- which was seriously damaged by fire on October 2, counted for $427,675 of this loss; a 3,794,096 1962; A new substation and transportation office (1.54%) decrease in the use of the five-cent trans- building at the Lake-Harlem terminal which was fers accounted for $189,705, and an 0.06% reduc- completed and placed in service during December, tion in average basic fares due to a higher ratio of 1964; Start of a ten-year program for the conver- students riding for a l2-cent fare accounted for an sion of CTA's substation facilities, by converting additional loss of $71,506. 25-cyclealternating current equipment to 60-cycle, at estimated cost of $11,620,000, which will be Other revenues increased by $759,806. The shared on a 60-40 basis by CTA and Commonwealth increase arose primarily from $858,901 in addi- Edison Company. Nineteen stations are to be con- tional interest earned on securities held in various verted on a continuing program; Completion of an special funds, and an increase of $46,390 in park- extensive modernization program at Howard ter- ing lot fees, partially offset by a decrease of minal, including rebuilding of the station, installa- $131,800 in car card advertising and $16,955 in. rent of track and facilities due to abandonment of service on the Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, Lessee, in January, 1963. 1964 Highlights Operation and maintenance expense s in 1964 in- creased by $719,323, but operating economies tion of new passenger control equipment, an esca- practically offset the increase in wages and related lator, an off-street, under-shelter bus-berthing expense s which occurred during the year. area, and a paved and drained auto parking lot. Originating revenue passengers for the combin- Both surface and rapid transit systems were ed system in 1964 totaled 490,469,216, an overall benefited by new passenger equipment delivered or decrease of 0.06 per cent as compared with 1963. ordered during 1964. Another big step in moderni- Of this total, the surface system accounted for zation of facilities was taken when delivery was 379,251,204 revenue passengers and the rapid completed by the Pullman-Standard Company of transit system, 111,218,011. Chicago on 180 "New Look" air-conditioned cars which were placed in service on the Lake street and the Douglas-Milwaukee portion of the West-North- $202,500,000 Spent on Improvements west route. During August a contract was awarded By year .end , CTA had invested or committed a to the Flxible Company of Loudonville, Ohio, for total of $202,500,000 since its inception for mod- the manufacture of 240 50-passenger "New Look" ernization of plant and rolling stock, and for re- diesel-powered buses for 1965 delivery. This or- placement of vehicle s that had become outmoded in der was supplemented in November by a contract the interim. At December 26, 1964, CTA had taken for 10 additional air-conditioned diesel buses, five delivery of 5,167 new revenue vehicles and 250 from the Truck and Coach Division of General others were on order for delivery in 1965. Total Motors Corporation and five from the Flxible Com- cost of these 5,417 units and auxiliary equipment pany for delivery in 1965. was approximately $151,247,000, of which$90,163,- 000 covered the purchase of 4,463 surface system The year 1964 was notable in that it marked the passehger units and $61,084,000 was for 954 rapid tenth consecutive year CTA had established new transit system car s. public safety records. During the year operating 2 eTA TRANSIT NEWS DISTRIBUTION OF CTA'S REVENUE DOLLAR FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 26, 1964 SERIAL BOND MATURITY· 1.48. MOTOR BUS FUEL • 1.S7. SINKING FUND· 1.8S. INJURIES AND DAMAGES· 6.43, TOTAL OPERATING LABOR COSTS 67.69. MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES· 7.66. DEFICIENCY IN DEPRECIATION· 0.26, NOTE, TOTAL OPERATING LABOR COSTS EXCLUDE $2,446,821 (1.82, OF CTA'S DOLLAR) CHARGED TO OPERATING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES AND INJURIES AND DAMAGE RESERVE. Reviewed in eTA Annual Report ernpl oy e s were involved in fewer traffic and pass- ployes retired on pension; four emp loye s drawing enger accidents than in any previous year of CTA disability pensions returned to active duty, and 412 operations, setting an a.ll e ti rne low frequency rate retired ernpl oye s died. At Decern be r 26, 1964, of 8.9 traffic and passenger accidents per 100,000 there were 5,465 retired ernp loye s receiving pen- rnile s operated. This rate was nine per cent lower sion pa yrrient s . than the 1963 rate of 9.8. The significance of this low rate is apparent when corripar ed with CTA's Several changes were rnade in executive and accident experience in the years 1947 through 1954 supervisory positions during 1964. when the rate fluctuated between 15 and 20. T. B. O'Connor was appointed general rna.nage r , An imp or ta.nt factor in this a chieverne nt is the succeeding Walter J. McCarter, retired. Francis pr ogr arn planne d and adrnirii ste r ed by CTA's Train- C. Knautz was appointed director of public infor- ing and Accident Prevention Depa r trn ent , In the rriati on succeeding H. L. Polland, retired, and training of Transportation Depa r trrient personnel, later was narrie d superintendent of public and ern+ the largest training activity, erripha si s was placed ploye relations; Charles E. Keiser was appointed on standardizing operating procedures, imp r ovirig operating rnaria ge r ; P. J. Meinardi was appointed in-service instruction and increasing observation rriana ge r of finance; Harold S. Anthon, was appoint- during an ernp loy e ' s fir st year of service. ed general superintendent of engineering; Gerald S. Graybiel, general superintendent of purchasing and The total nurn be r of emp loye s in service at the stores, was given added responsibility over the close of 1964 was 12,647, a decrease of 358 fr orn Specifications Depa r trn ent ; John A. Baker, sup- the 13,005 in service at Decernbe r 31, 1963, and a erintendent of training, was given added responsi- decrease of 10,721 f r orn the 23,368 ernploye a in bility over the Ernpl oyme nt Depa r trn ent and Clar- service at dates of acquisition of properties f r orn ence H. Grube was appointed treasurer. predecessor corriparrie s . During 1964, 404 ern+ SEPTEMBER, 1965 3 Board Awards Contract for 150 New Diesel Buses AWARD OF a contract for the purchase of 150 new ing firm, for an engineering study preparatory to buse s topped the agenda at the August 5 meeting of installing an escalator at the State-Van Buren loop Chicago Transit Board, which also authorized a station. This escalator is to be from the sidewalk contract for new equipment to be used in the 10- at the northwest corner of State-Van Buren inter- year substation conversion program now under way. section. The contract for the buse s was awarded to the The new buse s will be similar in de sign to the Flxi ble company of Loudonville, Ohio, who se bid 240 units delivered in the spring of this year. They of $3,944,292 was $63,220 lower than the only will be painted in CTA's official colors of mint other bidder, the Truck and Coach Division of Gen- green and alpine white with fluted side panels of eral Motors. Delivery is. to start in April, 1966, anodized aluminum and skirts of plain anodized at the rate of 50 per month. The 42 =pas senger, aluminum. The picture windows will be glazed diesel-fueled units will replace a like number of with safety glass.