Oct 12, 2009 6:41 pm US/Central
CTA Plans More Fare Hikes, Service Cuts
Train Fares Would Go Up To $3, Bus Fares To $2.50
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
If you ride the CTA, get ready to pay more. CTA President Richard Rodriguez says a $180 million budget hole would force the agency to take drastic measures to fill that gap.
Under the CTA's 2010 budget proposal, as of February, express bus and all train fares would jump to $3.00 a ride. Local bus fares would be $2.50 each way, up from $2.25. And the cost of a monthly, unlimited ride pass would increase $24.00.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports it would make Chicago's transit fares among the highest, if not the highest, in the country and definitely more expensive than fares in Los Angeles, New York and Boston.
Rider Desiree Hemphill points out it's been less than a year since the last fare hike and calls the proposal ridiculous.
But Rodriguez says the budget shortfall has left him no choice.
"I don't know how to avoid this," said Rodriguez. "My responsibility has been to ensure the budget is balanced. I've been extremely sensitive to this. It's an unfortunate position to be in."
In addition to fare hikes, Rodriguez says there would be service cuts, too. Nine express bus routes would disappear. And overall, there would be an 18 percent reduction in bus service and 9 percent reduction in train service.
In other words, buses and trains would run less frequently with more people on them.
"Where a bus runs every 12 minutes now," said Rodriguez, "it might run every 20 minutes going forward."
That's not all. In order to balance the books, 100 non-union employees would lose their jobs and more than 1,000 union workers could be laid off, too, if union bosses don't make concessions. Rodriguez blamed the economy for much of the lost revenue and said all the cuts go against everything the agency is trying to accomplish. Riders said it just hurts.
"It's hard for me because my job can't really pay good," said rider Chris Spellman.
If the economy rebounds, Rodriguez said he would look at reducing fares again.
He also said the agency made as many internal cuts as possible before looking to fare hikes and service reductions, including unpaid vacation days, furlough days and no raises.
What about the free rides for seniors that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich mandated two years ago? Rodriguez said that cost the agency about $30 million dollars this year and he expects it will cost the CTA about $60 million next year. But changing that would take action from state lawmakers and the governor.
All the CTA budget proposals would require approval of the CTA Board and the Regional Transportation Authority, following a public comment period.
New York approved a comparatively modest 12.5 percent increase to its base subway fare this year, from $2 to $2.25, after opposition to raising it to $2.50.
Chicago's CTA has made threats of service cuts and fare increases an almost annual ritual, with state lawmakers often stepping in to save the day. Last year, they increased sales taxes in Chicago-area counties and raised real estate transfer taxes in Chicago to benefit the transit system.
With state coffers now as bare as ever, observers say Monday's proposals seem far more likely to go through.
The CTA boss wouldn't concede that losing rights to host the 2016 Summer Games to Rio de Janeiro less than two weeks ago directly contributed to the recommendations in the $1.3 billion 2010 proposed budget.
But city leaders made no bones earlier about using a Chicago Olympics as leverage to squeeze additional money from the federal government to overhaul the century-old subway and elevated train system.
Officials have estimated they need $10 billion to improve all city networks, including the commuter train service. But they've struggled to secure enough cash to operate, never mind to overhaul their networks.
The CTA is looking at a $300 million shortfall next year. It said last week it'd end 70 jobs and maintain a salary freeze to save $120 million; it hopes the fare increases, service reductions and an additional 1,000 layoffs will reduce the remaining $180 million gap.
Chicago's 240-mile subway system has achieved iconic status. Known locally as the L, it has served as an instantly recognizable backdrop in Hollywood movies such as "The Blues Brothers."
The visibly crumbling network also has become an embarrassment and, for commuters, an everyday hassle.
Subway trains, some of which date back to the '70s, typically rattle and shake en route. They're also sometimes forced to slow to the pace of a horse at trot because of shoddy tracks.
Bus infrastructure is similarly old and ailing.
Some maintenance buildings for buses date back to the era of the horse and buggy. Under the budget proposal, the CTA would retire 287 old buses, and it would close its 102-year-old Archer Garage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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