May 29, 2007 12:15 pm US/Central
Is Doomsday Coming At The CTA?
'L' Fares Will Cost As Much As $3.25 Without Extra State Funding
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Officials at the Chicago Transit Authority have approved a plan to eliminate service on two 'L' lines and raise fares to as much as $3.25 if the state does not shell out more funds.
As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, the CTA is demanding that Illinois lawmakers come up with nearly $100 million to keep it running without severe service cuts and fare hikes.
CTA officials approved the emergency plan involving cuts and fare hikes if new funds are not brought in at special board meeting Tuesday.
CTA President Ron Huberman said last week that without more funding from Springfield, there was simply no way to continue the current fare structure and service level.
"If we simply kept our current level of service and the current fare structure, in October 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.
"This is a real crisis that will affect real people, real quality of life, real economy," added RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly. "Let me be really clear with the people of Illinois, it is gut check time."
The CTA wants $97.5 million total from the state. If that does not happen, the doomsday scenario will go into effect, officials say.
Fares would rise to $3.25 for a rush hour ride on the 'L' system, $2.50 off peak. Standard fares right now are $2.
Bus fares would rise for $2.75 during rush hour and $2.25 off peak. Now, buses are $1.75 for fare card or Chicago Card users, and $2 for cash fares.
Proposed service cuts are less dramatic than the CTA has proposed in past years, but would still involve the shutdown of 'L' lines. The Yellow Line to Skokie would be eliminated altogether, and its tracks would only be used to transport trains to a repair yard at the end of the line.
The Purple Line Express would also be eliminated, and the Purple Line would only run north of Howard Street.
The plan would also eliminate 63 bus routes.
People who talked with CBS 2 Tuesday morning were not pleased about the plan, especially the prospect of paying more.
"I really don't have no choice. I stay close to the 'L', so that's my only means of transportation right now," said CTA customer Deon Parker. "If I have to pay it, so be it. (But) I don't like it at all."
"That's expensive. I don't know how I'm going to pay it. But I'll try. I've got to get to work. It's really bad," added CTA customer Marlene Smith. "There's some money somewhere. There has to be. They've got money for everything else. Get some money for the CTA. Cough it up."
CTA customers may voice their concerns at public hearings, which will be scheduled after the Tuesday meeting.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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