CTA plan: $3 for train, 25-cent bus fare hike, job losses
Tue. October 13, 2009 12:00 AM by Chicago Breaking News
Chicago, IL -
CTA service would run less frequently and the basic fare would be raised to as much as $3 next year under a dire 2010 budget proposal unveiled today.
The CTA workforce would be hit hard as well to ease a projected $300 million budget shortfall.
Up to 1,100 union jobs and 100 administrative position are slated for elimination if new public funding and employee concessions fail to occur, transit officials said.
"Union employees have been relatively untouched by layoffs [in recent years]," said CTA President Richard Rodriguez. "We are asking the unions to step up and be a part of the solution."
Some 110 of the CTA's 150 bus routes would provide less frequent service under the belt-tightening plan. Average waiting times could double.
Rail customers, who would pay the highest fares, could also face more crowded trains, Rodriguez said.
"Customers may have a longer wait and they are less likely to have a seat," he said during a news conference at CTA headquarters downtown.
CTA officials last week identified $122 million in internal cuts, leaving a $178 million shortfall in next year's budget.
Rodriguez blamed the budget crisis on a projected 30 percent decline in anticipated tax revenue in 2010.
The outlines of the fare hikes as well as proposed service reductions are contained in a legal notice the agency placed in the Chicago Tribune this morning (see below).
The major changes would include:
• Basic train fares to $3 from $2.25.
• Basic bus fares to $2.50 from $2.25.
• Express bus fares to $3 from as little as $2.25 now.
• Full fare 30-day passes to $110 from $86.
• Seven-day passes to $30 from $23.
In addition, express bus service would no longer be available on nine routes: X3, X4, X9, X20, X49, X54, X55, X80 and 53 AL.
Hours of operation also would be reduced on 41 other bus routes, generally in the early morning and late night. Each would lose between 25 minutes and about three hours of service a day, with a few routes even more.
In addition, buses and trains would run less frequently. Effective Feb. 7, the CTA is proposing to eliminate 827,000 hours of bus service (or 13.7 percent), and 57,803 hours of rail service (or 9.8 percent) across all bus routes and rail lines. These reductions would be spread across the day to affect the least number of customers, the CTA said.
Written by: Jon Hilkevitch
The CTA workforce would be hit hard as well to ease a projected $300 million budget shortfall.
Up to 1,100 union jobs and 100 administrative position are slated for elimination if new public funding and employee concessions fail to occur, transit officials said.
"Union employees have been relatively untouched by layoffs [in recent years]," said CTA President Richard Rodriguez. "We are asking the unions to step up and be a part of the solution."
Some 110 of the CTA's 150 bus routes would provide less frequent service under the belt-tightening plan. Average waiting times could double.
Rail customers, who would pay the highest fares, could also face more crowded trains, Rodriguez said.
"Customers may have a longer wait and they are less likely to have a seat," he said during a news conference at CTA headquarters downtown.
CTA officials last week identified $122 million in internal cuts, leaving a $178 million shortfall in next year's budget.
Rodriguez blamed the budget crisis on a projected 30 percent decline in anticipated tax revenue in 2010.
The outlines of the fare hikes as well as proposed service reductions are contained in a legal notice the agency placed in the Chicago Tribune this morning (see below).
The major changes would include:
• Basic train fares to $3 from $2.25.
• Basic bus fares to $2.50 from $2.25.
• Express bus fares to $3 from as little as $2.25 now.
• Full fare 30-day passes to $110 from $86.
• Seven-day passes to $30 from $23.
In addition, express bus service would no longer be available on nine routes: X3, X4, X9, X20, X49, X54, X55, X80 and 53 AL.
Hours of operation also would be reduced on 41 other bus routes, generally in the early morning and late night. Each would lose between 25 minutes and about three hours of service a day, with a few routes even more.
In addition, buses and trains would run less frequently. Effective Feb. 7, the CTA is proposing to eliminate 827,000 hours of bus service (or 13.7 percent), and 57,803 hours of rail service (or 9.8 percent) across all bus routes and rail lines. These reductions would be spread across the day to affect the least number of customers, the CTA said.
Written by: Jon Hilkevitch
Article provided in partnership with ChicagoBreakingNews.com.