Located in the 60606 is one of my favorite buildings in the loop. Right off the Washington/Wells stop, near a Starbucks, Goodwin’s, Cosi and even a small convince store in the lobby, stands the One North Franklin. It is located near everything to keep you running during the rush of an average day at the firm.

This building has some of the fastest elevators that I have every ridden. When going from the top floors down to the lobby, I can feel my ears pop.

Height (struct.) 151 m / 494 ft
Floors 36
Office Space 617,000 s.f.
Parking ratio  1:21000
Construction End 1992

Watch out when trying to haul equipment out of the building because the tall security guard that works the morning shift always demands to see a equipment pass. One time I was hauling out a small computer tower that was no bigger than a book, and I had to go get a pass. This particular client was out of passes so a series of confirming phone calls ensued, wasting 10-15 minutes of my time.

Despite the sometimes annoying security happenings, it remains in my top five buildings to work in. LPChad tested and approved.

Every weekday, from 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM, thousands of suburban people flood into Union and Ogilvie Station from the loop to head back to smaller towns outside of Chicago. According to the 2005 audited finical statement from Metra, more than 68.6 million people rode the rails in 2005. That’s over 243,000+ people a day counting only “work days” in the year.

What do they do when they get off at the Metra station? Drive, drive and more driving. They drive their cars to their homes and park in a three car garage. So sad – they will never know the joy of getting a text message on the BlackBerry while commuting out of the loop, stopping into Kinkade’s for a drink and then going for a walk with your Trixie.

I don’t envy them at all.

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.

Today at the Armitage Brown Line stop workers were handing out a bunch of flyers about alternative bus service that will help during the impending three track disaster. The CTA is stating that travel times are expected to double which got me thinking about the economic comparison between taking a taxi or the Brown Line to the loop.

This graph compares how much you lose based on your hourly pay at the firm with travel times of 20, 30 and a horrible 40 minutes if the CTA performs that poorly when the three track system is implemented.

Depending on how much you make per hour, it may be worthwhile to take a cab to work. The shaded portion refects that one should take the Brown Line to the loop.

I have talked to a few Chads and the going rate for a cab to LaSalle and Adams is around $15 during rush periods and $20 in gridlock (including tip). Remember that indivuidal results may vary depending in the location within the Village.

Goodwin’s, located at 175 N Franklin St, is an excellent place to for lunch. Healthy food, great staff and Diet Coke for Trixie - what else could you ask for? The place fills up fast so the LPCS developed this guide that shows the best time to arrive in order to obtain you food in a timely manner and be able to get a seat.

The best time to arrive is between 12:00 and 12:15 PM. If you arrive after 12:30 PM, it will be difficult to get a seat. You may have to have Trixie scout out a seat while you order a Santa Fe tortilla wrap for her.