Jun 24, 2009 6:03 pm US/Central
Seniors Ride Free While CTA Faces $35M Shortfall
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Some seniors, like Lisa Miller, could afford to pay for their own bus and train fare, though all seniors are entitled to free rides, regardless of need.
CBS
State budget problems are having a trickledown effect across Illinois. Take public transportation, for instance.
While senior citizens, regardless of need, have been riding Chicago buses and trains for free, the CTA might have to make touch cuts because it is short on cash. The CTA might have to chop its budget by $35 million because of a big drop in tax revenue.
The Regional Transportation Authority votes on the issue Thursday.
"We can't spend money we don't have," said RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly.
But even if now's not the best time to offer senior citizens free rides, Reilly says his hands are tied.
"That's a state law; we don't have any choice," he said. "If I had my druthers I would probably not have that program."
Registered senior citizens are issued a card that allows them to go anywhere they want, free of charge.
Lisa Miller uses hers about four times a week, even though money isn't tight for her.
She said she uses her free ride card because "it's free, and free is good."
But what's free for her and others cost the CTA more than $20 million in 2008. And that's almost as much as the agency might have to cut from its budget.
Instead, CTA President Richard Rodriguez said everything is on the table, including service cuts and fare hikes, which could hurt passengers across the board.
Rodriguez said he's spoken to members of the legislature about the issue, but added, "I think politically once you've given something you can't take it away."
Before free rides became law there was talk about a tiered fare system. Gov. Pat Quinn says he wants to see how the program works before making any changes. That means all seniors will continue to ride for free despite real fiscal pressures.
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