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CBS 2's Rafael Romo contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The head of the CTA is bringing up a scenario that could shake up your commute in a big way.

As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman says the agency has done everything possible to tighten its own belt, and if the organization does not get the necessary funding from the Illinois General Assembly, massive reductions and fare hikes will be the only option.

The "doomsday plan" calls for a 13 percent reduction in train and bus service, a bus fare increase from $1.75 to $2.75 for all riders, and an 'L' train fare increase from $2 to $3.25 per ride.

Some north suburban riders would be the first to feel the pinch for service cuts. Service on the Yellow (Skokie Swift) line would be suspended altogether, and Purple Line Express trains would also be suspended, leaving service on the line only from Howard Street north. The other lines would continue to operate at current service levels.

"If we simply kept our current level of service and our current and the current fare structure we could no longer meet payroll and that would be in essence a shutting down of the system, obviously not an option that we're going to take," Huberman said.

The CTA is asking for $110 million in public funding for the rest of 2007. While Huberman says he is very hopeful that legislators in Springfield will see the dire situation and provide the money, the fare increases and service cuts will have to take effect in mid-September if they do not.

"We would have to develop plans to inform customers of the proposed changes. Basically, the timing of this announcement was driven by a number of factors. I point that out because some of you may jump to the conclusion that we are making this announcement in order to put pressure on the state legislature. Let me be very clear that this is not the case," Huberman said. "I have been traveling to Springfield weekly since joining the CTA and have had some very productive conversations."

Huberman says the CTA needs $97.5 million from the state to avoid a crisis.

The potential impact of CTA cuts would be felt by Metra riders and everyone who drives on the tollways and expressways, since some might need to find alternate means of transportation. More crowded Metra trains and longer travel times would result if the changes were implemented.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transportation Authority is calling for an increase in the sales tax to increase its funding to the necessary amount. One percent of all sales taxes in Cook County goes to the RTA, but the agency only gets 0.25 percent of all sales taxes in the collar counties.

RTA officials say ignoring the situation would also have serious consequences for the suburban area.

"This is a real crisis that will affect real people, real quality of life, real economy," said RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly. "Let me be really clear with the people of Illinois, it is gut check time."

The CTA and other transit authorities many times have warned of consequences for riders if the state did not provide new funding.

"It will reach a point where people can no longer afford it so they'll start cutting back on using it," said CTA rider Alfred Woods.

"The people that have to work, that have low wages, I don't think it's fair to them and to the kids that are going to school," said rider Edwina Cook.

The CTA currently provides around 1.6 million rides a day.

"I don't think I really have a choice," said CTA commuter Rachel Runnals. "I take the train, I mean, maybe I would look into taking the bus, but really I don't have much of a choice to get to work."

When former CTA President Frank Kruesi announced he was leaving his position last month, he said it was time for the CTA to seek additional funding. But some members of the state General Assembly have been disappointed in Kruesi and wanted him out before voting for additional funding.

Kruesi also angered many CTA riders, as well as state legislators, at the end of 2004, when he outlined "doomsday" scenarios that involved steep fare hikes, the total elimination of 24-hour bus and rail service and a focus only on rush hour commuters, if the General Assembly did not change the funding structure for mass transit.

Ultimately, the General Assembly did not change the funding formula that distributes money to the CTA, Pace and Metra. But fares were raised to $2 by 2006, and the service cuts never materialized.

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