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CTA: "We Are Now 73% Urine-Free!"

By: Frank Williams
Chicago Transit Authority President Frank Kreusi announced at a press conference yesterday that the CTA's five-year-old "Project No More Pee Pee" continues to be a success. He released statistics which showed that 2002 is on pace to become the lowest urine-filled for the CTA.

"Thanks to the diligent work of our customer service agents, janitorial staff and members of the Pee Moppers Union, local 314; The CTA is on track to being 73% Urine-free for 2002," Kreusi announced, "Despite the fact that the CTA does not operate any public washrooms, we are seeing a decline in instances where our facilities are 'christened' by the riding public-especially those with very weak bladders."

Project No More Pee Pee began in 1998 after a special report by the Mayor's office concluded that in 1997, 95% of CTA facilities were saturated with urine. The project was an immediate success when the percentage dropped to 45% after just one year. Transit advocates credit that drop to the installation of "Pee Buckets" in the cab of every train and the Transit Workers Union's perk of free "Depends" for its members. CTA officials point to their $4 million advertising campaign entitled, "CTA: Take It, Don't Whiz On It." Last year, the CTA was judged to be 31% urine-soaked (69% urine-free).

Critics of the CTA point out that since last year, several other CTA facilities have been added to the study-including the Transit Workers Union meeting hall, All CTA offices at the Merchandise Mart and Frank Kreusi's personal residence. Chicago Transit Board Chairman Valerie Jarrett dismissed those claims, pointing out that on a same-facilities basis, the urine-free number was actually lower (71%) and that those added facilities were now included due to an oversight in 1997.

Mayor Daley praised the CTA for it's diligence and promised not to cut the City of Chicago's annual $3 million in support of the CTA. That would mean that 2003 will be the 15th straight year that the City of Chicago has funded the CTA with a generous $3 million while CTA fares have increased 50% in the same span.