CTA fare hike, service cuts coming?
The Chicago Tribune reports today (reg. req.) that the annual whining and gnashing of teeth about possible fare hikes and service cuts have begun.
Jon Hilkevitch writes:
“Chicago Transit Authority officials warned Thursday that service cuts and another fare increase could be imposed next year unless the General Assembly alters the formula that funds mass transit in the six-county region.
”The cutbacks, which would be the first major reductions since 1997, could include eliminating 24-hour bus and rail service and switching the CTA's focus to serving rush-hour commuters, the agency's top brass told the Tribune editorial board.
"Transit funding is broken in the region," said CTA Chairman Carole Brown. "... If we don't see changes, you are going to see a much smaller, different CTA. But you are also going to see more traffic congestion, more air pollution.
"You are going to see the quality of life in this region impacted because we can't offer the same kind of public transportation that we've had in the past."
”CTA officials say the transit agency's share of public operating subsidies has eroded over the last 20 years because the funding formula is outdated.”
And the story closes with:
“About 85 percent of the RTA's regional sales tax revenue is allocated by a geographic formula that has resulted in funding for Metra and Pace growing faster than for the CTA, which provides 80 percent of the transit trips in the six-county region each day.”
Now, as a Chicagoan and daily CTA user, I must say I find that funding formula to be very troubling.
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