Nov 11, 2008 10:41 pm US/Central
CTA To Vote On New Budget Tomorrow
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A key vote tomorrow could determine the price of your commute. The CTA will decide whether to raise the fares for the bus and train service. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that CTA President Ron Huberman says the only way to avoid service cuts and keep trains and buses running at current levels is to raise fares. He says there is no other option and Wednesday morning the Transit Board will have the final vote.
It will cost 25 cents more per ride if the CTA board says yes to a fare hike.
"25 cents more is a lot," a commuter said.
"It's a racket 'cause somebody's making money. The trains are packed," another commuter said.
Huberman broke the news last month saying despite ridership being way up; the increase was the only way to plug a $42 million budget hole.
"Today is not doomsday. Today is a tough budget year," Huberman said.
Huberman says record high fuel and energy costs, lower than expected tax revenues and free rides for some people, including seniors, are to blame. Governor Blagojevich ordered the free rides for seniors early this year as a condition of funding help from Springfield. CTA officials say Blagojevich's mandate cost the Transit Authority $26.5 million.
"It's kind of annoying that that would go up for everyone else because seniors aren't paying. And I think they should too in order to keep the fares down," a commuter said.
So what would riders pay? Card bus fares would go up to $2 from $1.75. If passengers pay cash, the fare would be $2.25. Each train ride would cost $2.25 – up from $2. All passes would increase too. For instance, a three-day visitor pass would go up to$15 from $12. And the Chicago Card discount would be eliminated.
"25 cents adds up every month, and I think that in the state of the economy, it's going to affect everybody," a commuter said.
"I still think that's pretty reasonable. I mean, it's cheaper than the cost of owning a car," another commuter said.
If the board passes the rate hike tomorrow, the new fares would go into effect in January. But Huberman has been quick to point out it would only keep service intact, not go towards infrastructure improvements. He says that would take a massive capital bill out of Springfield and lawmakers have failed to do that.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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