Aaron Maertins
@amaertins.bsky.social
Chicagolander
Transit planner 🚉
World traveler ✈️
Husband 🏳️🌈 and dog dad
Lover of Shark Week 🦈 and chocolate chip cookies 🍪
Transit planner 🚉
World traveler ✈️
Husband 🏳️🌈 and dog dad
Lover of Shark Week 🦈 and chocolate chip cookies 🍪
Like we could actually have company it’s spotless
October 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Like we could actually have company it’s spotless
Becomes a Madison Street cut and cover subway. Trying to avoid expressways.
October 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Becomes a Madison Street cut and cover subway. Trying to avoid expressways.
Decently proud of how I organized the lines downtown, each of the four Loop stations see about 100K boardings
October 17, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Decently proud of how I organized the lines downtown, each of the four Loop stations see about 100K boardings
~1 million daily riders and no stations named after intersections
October 17, 2025 at 2:06 AM
~1 million daily riders and no stations named after intersections
Valparaíso, Chile?
October 11, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Valparaíso, Chile?
With the systemwide signage and wayfinding project may not have to imagine that for much longer…
October 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
With the systemwide signage and wayfinding project may not have to imagine that for much longer…
I’ll ask our Real Estate group and see what exactly our agreement with the office building says as far as required access - systemwide, doors being locked when they shouldn’t be is one of my biggest frustrations, and it can be a tough nut to crack when we don’t own the building
October 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I’ll ask our Real Estate group and see what exactly our agreement with the office building says as far as required access - systemwide, doors being locked when they shouldn’t be is one of my biggest frustrations, and it can be a tough nut to crack when we don’t own the building
In the past I’ve heard that the property owner prevents Metra from signing the accessible entrance in the office building, unfortunately. 100% agree it needs to get better, I worked at Metra for over 10 years before actually realizing where the accessible entrance was.
October 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
In the past I’ve heard that the property owner prevents Metra from signing the accessible entrance in the office building, unfortunately. 100% agree it needs to get better, I worked at Metra for over 10 years before actually realizing where the accessible entrance was.
Not my area so this could change/not end up being what happens - but I believe the entrance will remain open, but will be non-ADA accessible for a period next year while the elevator is replaced There will be extensive warnings/outreach prior to that happening.
October 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Not my area so this could change/not end up being what happens - but I believe the entrance will remain open, but will be non-ADA accessible for a period next year while the elevator is replaced There will be extensive warnings/outreach prior to that happening.
Not sure but I can ask around - I know that the entrance on Lower South Water will be better identified but I’m not sure about the staircase from Michigan Ave
October 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Not sure but I can ask around - I know that the entrance on Lower South Water will be better identified but I’m not sure about the staircase from Michigan Ave
Groundbreaking for the rehab
Metra breaks ground on renovation of South Water St. | Metra
Metra and local officials today broke ground on a project to renovate the South Water Street entrance to Millennium Station on the Metra Electric Line.
metra.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Groundbreaking for the rehab
Lots of folks out celebrating today!
September 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Lots of folks out celebrating today!
That’d require a -big- Mannheim fix
September 14, 2025 at 1:34 AM
That’d require a -big- Mannheim fix
I’ll say I’ve done my best to make that workable on my end - the off peak train comes at the same time every hour, 7 days a week, and it’s been like that since last May. Easy to schedule around. But the 330 is not clockfaced, and also for some reason stops at Archer/Harlem rather than going to MDW.
September 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I’ll say I’ve done my best to make that workable on my end - the off peak train comes at the same time every hour, 7 days a week, and it’s been like that since last May. Easy to schedule around. But the 330 is not clockfaced, and also for some reason stops at Archer/Harlem rather than going to MDW.
You’ll NITA find someone who can look into that.
September 14, 2025 at 12:59 AM
You’ll NITA find someone who can look into that.
Well this would seem to sever my own one-seat ride to ORD so now I’m not sure.
September 14, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Well this would seem to sever my own one-seat ride to ORD so now I’m not sure.
Milwaukee District capacity would definitely make it interesting but would be cool to see one of those lines go to ORD - one seat ride for the greater South Side/South Burbs to the largest single site employer (that is ORD right?) + connection for McCormick Pl
September 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Milwaukee District capacity would definitely make it interesting but would be cool to see one of those lines go to ORD - one seat ride for the greater South Side/South Burbs to the largest single site employer (that is ORD right?) + connection for McCormick Pl
Well I’ve wanted to shed those old railroad-y names since I walked in the door, but I suppose we only began studying it a little under a year ago so I’m happy to concede that you got there before me.
September 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Well I’ve wanted to shed those old railroad-y names since I walked in the door, but I suppose we only began studying it a little under a year ago so I’m happy to concede that you got there before me.
I cant shake the thought that I want more connectivity for that X7 and X8 service. Also knew you’d come around to the alphanumerics.
September 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I cant shake the thought that I want more connectivity for that X7 and X8 service. Also knew you’d come around to the alphanumerics.
It’s a solid first step we’ve been trying to implement for over a year. Can’t wait to see what ridership looks like. Fiscal cliff shenanigans notwithstanding, hoping next year we can add the four additional round trips to make it true hourly.
September 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
It’s a solid first step we’ve been trying to implement for over a year. Can’t wait to see what ridership looks like. Fiscal cliff shenanigans notwithstanding, hoping next year we can add the four additional round trips to make it true hourly.
BNSF carried 50K yesterday just saying.
September 11, 2025 at 2:55 AM
BNSF carried 50K yesterday just saying.