Nov 13, 2008 5:26 pm US/Central
CTA Approves Fare Hikes For Next Year
Most Single Rides Go Up 25 Cents
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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CTA riders will have to pay a quarter to 50 cents more per ride starting January 2009.
CBS
The Chicago Transit Authority has approved a fare hike for next year, after warning of a financial crisis despite an increase in ridership this year.
The Transit Board approved the proposed fare hike on Thursday. The plan called for a hike of 25 cents -- a 14 percent increase -- for single rides.
This means effective in January, card bus fares will go up to $2 from $1.75. If passengers pay cash, the fare will be $2.25. Each train ride will also cost $2.25 – up from $2. All passes will also increase, and the Chicago Card discount will be eliminated.
Most CTA riders are not on board with plans to raise rates next year by a quarter or 50 cents a ride. The CTA is quick to point out the hike is not as much as originally planned, but that's little consolation for angry protestors who brought some fireworks to Thursday's board meeting.
Outraged over having to pay more to get around, a handful of protestors staged a demonstration outside CTA headquarters.
One heckler even disrupted the vote, screaming, "Why don't you guys take a pay cut? All day we've been hearing from you fat cats about how to handle this mess..." and had to be escorted out of the meeting.
The chairman of the cash-strapped agency says they have no choice but to raise fares to help meet a budget shortfall.
"Just like the rest of my board, I do not relish a fair increase, but I do think the staff has done it as responsibly as they could," CTA Board Chairman Carol Brown.
The only item on which the CTA slightly backed off was multi-ride tickets, which were supposed to go up 20 percent, but will now only rise 16 percent. A monthly pass will now go up from $75 to $86, whereas an earlier plan had called for $90.
"Of course it's going to hurt me in that I'm working part time right now," said CTA rider Lydia McPeak.
"My job isn't recession-proof. It's kinda scary to think I might not be able to get around," CTA rider Darien Porter said.
In addition, the CTA is eliminating 600 jobs and the board approved an early retirement plan, which will allow them to hire new employees at cheaper salaries.
CTA President Ron Huberman has said a fare hike is mandatory to avoid service cuts and keep trains and buses running at current levels.
In many recent years, the CTA has warned of "doomsday" scenarios which have called for the elimination of everything from scores of bus routes to all overnight 'L' train service. The CTA ultimately found ways to avoid all those outcomes, and now, Huberman is emphasizing that the CTA's current predicament does not constitute a "doomsday."
"Today is not doomsday. Today is a tough budget year," he said.
But Huberman said despite ridership being way up, a fare hike is the only way to plug a $42 million budget hole. The CTA admits the increases will cost them some riders who aren't willing to pay more. But they say it will be worth it. The higher fares are expected to bring in an additional $39 million in revenue.
He said record high fuel and energy costs, lower than expected tax revenues and free rides for some people, including seniors, are to blame. Last year, the CTA had threatened to eliminate 81 bus routes and raise fares as high as $3.25 if Springfield did not grant additional funds. Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved funding help for the CTA, but ordered free rides for seniors early this year as a condition.
CBS 2's Susan Carlson contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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