While waiting for an inbound Brown Line a conductor of the Red Line was waving out of his open window at all the Chads and Trixies heading into the loop before proceeding into the subway. With a slight look of disgust on my face since I was unable to board the first train, I felt the urge to bite my thumb at him.

Dear CTA, 

I am upset that you have not used technology to be more proactive in solving the current issue of the Brown Line growth. The current plan of three tracks and increased bus service is more responsive and seems like it was whipped up in less than a year.

Microsoft has developed this wonderful technology called SQL which is a technology to contain large amounts of information in an organized and efficient manner. Here’s an idea. Collect the ridership information from the turnstiles and store them in a database. Do you have any idea the type of projection reports that could have been produced? Two, three or even ten years ago there could have been a plan developed to maintain, upgrade and support the currently failing CTA infrastructure.

Don’t argue my point and say that the implementation of this technology would cost too much. There are open source projects that have the same functionality as Microsoft’s SQL server called MySQL. This website is based on entirely open source MySQL and PHP code which has not cost me a single cent.

I have heard first hand from a consultant at one of the major planning firms downtown, which I shall not name, that the CTA has mounds of data but they do not know how to handle or use it.

SELECT FROM CTA WHERE COMPENTENCY > 0;
0 ROWS RETURNED

I have an idea. Spend $80K (plus benefits and two weeks of vacation) a year and hire me. I will design, maintain and develop a database system that will help you be proactive and not responsive. Where shall I send my resume?

Brent

Brent is a Microsoft Certified Partner and works as a consultant for small and medium sized businesses in Chicago.

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