Advising North Side El riders to "Leave early, leave late and alternate," Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman said today that the agency's construction plans are likely to snarl commutes in coming months.

Beginning March 30, Red, Purple and Brown line trains will share a single southbound track between Belmont and Fullerton, Huberman says.

Currently, the trains use two tracks in each direction. The construction will add one northbound and one southbound track, easing congestion and cutting travel times.

The CTA will run eight-car trains on the Brown Line during morning and evening rush hours while the construction proceeds. The Paulina and Wellington stations, which can only accommodate six-car trains, will be closed for renovation during the project. 

"Longer trains will certainly help, but we will still be limited in the number of trains we will be able to operate on one track," says Huberman.

The agency will also beef up bus service near the affected Brown Line stops.

Huberman said that the progress made to date on the expansion operation amounted to good news for riders in the affected area.

"I'm very happy to report that we are on-budget and on time on the Brown Line Project," Huberman said.

The new tracks between Belmont and Fullerton will open by June 2009 according to Huberman.

Huberman also proposed a plan to deal with southbound Red Line trains so crowded they cannot take on new passengers at Fullerton and other stops.

The CTA is considering 'sneaker trains,' which would wait on alternate tracks behind eight-car trains at southbound Red Line stops to collect overflow passengers.

"This will ensure that customers south of Fullerton are not always unable to get onto trains because they're full of riders from the stops north of them," Huberman says.

In other business, the CTA board:

• Okayed contracts with its rail and bus drivers unions, as well as tentative agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Union, Local 134 and the craft union coalition.
• Voted to expand service on the #43 and #65 bus routes
• Approved weekend service on the Yellow Line.