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Since announcing a plan last summer to eliminate speed-restricted areas, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has cut the number of slow zones on its system by more than half.

During the past year, the agency has removed a total of 141,577 feet of slow zones, leaving 121,949 feet still to be addressed. CTA crews continue to eliminate slow zones on the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line, a project scheduled to be complete by 2008's end. The agency also is eliminating 4,700 feet of slow zones on the Brown Line between the Belmont and Western stations, and 3,580 feet of slow zones on the Red Line between the Belmont and Sheridan stations. The projects are expected to conclude in summer 2009.

Meanwhile, crews also are working to prevent slow zones in other areas of the system. This week, the agency is replacing track and ties, and installing a new signal and train-control system at the Van Buren/Wabash and Lake/Wells junctions.