CTA Releases Proposed 2008 Budget
On Friday, Oct 12th, CTA released its proposed budget for 2008. Though it has long been clear that Springfield is not funding CTA sufficiently, the new budget makes it even clearer. As CTA President Ron Huberman wrote, “…while the CTA continues to look for every opportunity to cut costs, there is simply no way we can manage our way out of a $158 million deficit in 2008.” The budget, which is $50 million less than the 2007 budget, which was already insufficient to maintain operations, includes provisions for steep fare increases and service cuts in January, which will be in addition to those scheduled for November4. More than half of the CTA’s bus routes will be cut in the two service reductions, and rush-hour fares will rise to $3.25 on L lines.
The costs of disinvestment in our region’s transit system are incalculable. Not only will thousands of riders be stranded, many without alternative transportation, but the overall economic health of the region will suffer as congestion grows exponentially worse and moving around the region becomes increasingly difficult.
Please let your legislator know that you support a long-term funding solution to the transit crisis looming over Northeastern Illinois. If you can’t write or call your legislators directly, go to www.transitchicago.com to send them and the governor a message.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
The 84 bus routes scheduled to be terminated carry more weekday passengers than either the Kennedy Expressway or the entire Metra system. If either one of those crucial transportation links were to disappear, our political leaders would be in a frenzy — but because it’s CTA, it apparently deserves nary a mention (never mind action) from our esteemed politicians.
That such cuts could even be contemplated shows that our government has completely failed us.