Frozen switches leave Red Line riders stranded on North Side SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE 
 
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 Article Extras Related Stories 18 inches of snow at Midway, 17.1 at O'Hare as blizzard continues 
 
 North Side CTA Red Line riders were stuck scrambling for transportation Tuesday night during the dangerous blizzard after several trains encountered switching problems. 
 
 Frozen switches stopped Red Line trains in both directions from Howard to Belmont between 8:45 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., CTA spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said. 
 
 Gregory said switches became frozen and passengers were being shuttled from Howard to Belmont. 
 
 For those hoping to get north of Howard, the Yellow Line was not an option, as that line also encountered switching problems, Gregory said. Those riders were also accommodated with bus shuttles. 
 
 The shuttles picked passengers up from the station to get to areas where buses could pick them up, she said. 
 
 Meanwhile, Gregory said a several buses have reported being stuck in the snow. 
 
 “It’s kind of happening progressively,” Gregory said. “You get one out and another one gets stuck.” 
 
 Metra trains are delayed up to three hours because of switching problems and weather conditions and numerous trains are stopped throughout the suburbs, according to Metra’s website. 
 
 The CTA is reporting Yellow Line service has been suspended and the Blue, Red and Purple lines are experiencing “significant delays.” Some CTA buses have also become stuck in the snow. ||||| More at Zennie62.com | Follow me on Twitter! | Get my widget! | Visit YouTube | Visit Facebook.com Chicago, this blogger's hometown, is in a snow-blizzard mess, and so much so that "Lake Shore Drive" is a... 
 
 Lake Shore Drive In Chicago Closed, Lake Michigan With 24-Foot Swells 
 
 Lake Shore Drive In Chicago Closed, Lake Michigan With 24-Foot Swells 
 
 Chicago, this blogger's hometown, is in a snow-blizzard mess, and so much so that "Lake Shore Drive" is a Twitter Trending Topic for the first time. 
 
 According to tweets, people have been told to abandon their cars and walk to safety because of the unusually high waves. Lake Shore Drive is closed, as is Sheridan Blvd in Evanston next to Northwestern University. 
 
 Several photos on Twitpic (like this one by @callmerashad) show a surreal scene of darkness, haze, snow, and cars illuminated by street lights and headlights, and snow - a lot of snow. 
 
 All thanks to a giant winter storm system that's literally attacking an area from Chicago to Dallas, where in suburban Arlington, Texas, Super Bowl XVL will be played this Sunday. Already, Super Bowl events are harder to get to in an already spread-out Super Bowl plan, because of the snow and ice. 
 
 But that's nothing compared to Chicago. 
 
 Mayor Richard J. Daley said the storm is "of historic magnitude, the likes of which we have not seen in decades." 
 
 Or, since January 26, 1967, when Chicago was buried under up two 23 inches of snow in two days. 
 
 I should know. I was six years old and in Chicago ..for more, including videos click here. 
 
 Posted By: Zennie62 (Email) |
– One-third of the country is covered in snow, but the storm hammering Chicago is especially intense. What they’re dealing with, courtesy of the Tribune, Sun-Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle: Hundreds of motorists and bus riders were stranded last night and early this morning on Lake Shore Drive due to snow, ice, and whiteout conditions; while many were rescued after five hours or so, some reported being trapped for as many as nine hours. The Drive was completely closed around 7:50pm, as officials tried to clear abandoned vehicles from the paths of plows, buses, and salt trucks. Though official reports claim drivers were urged to stay in their cars, “Lake Shore Drive” quickly became a trending topic on Twitter as users tweeted that people were being told to leave their cars in order to avoid danger from Lake Michigan’s 24-foot swells. As officials worked to reopen Lake Shore Drive, I-80 was also expected to be closed. That and other interstates, highways, and roads were reported to be “impassable.” Among the buildings damaged by the blizzard: Wrigley Field, where a portion of the roof blew off. Nearly 20,000 power outages were reported in Chicago and the surrounding area last night, and ComEd was working through the night to brace for more downed power lines. Train riders also found themselves stuck when frozen switches halted Red Line trains in both directions as well as some Yellow Line trains, and had to scramble for alternate transportation. Click for more on this crazy weather.