Pace riders will be paying more and getting
Pace riders will be paying more and getting less under a money-saving plan passed Wednesday by agency officials hoping for a taxpayer bailout.
Yet, the most drastic fare hikes and service cuts previously floated by Pace officials have been pushed off until next year.
There remains "a good deal of confidence" lawmakers will approve a quarter-cent sales tax hike to fill a $260 million budget hole in the region's train and bus operations, Pace chairman Richard Kwasneski said.
Metra and the CTA are also contemplating fare hikes and service cuts if the tax hike isn't approved. The CTA is looking to eliminate service on two el lines and hike rush hour fares to $3.25. Metra is eyeing a 10 percent fare hike and no weekend service after Jan. 1.
At Pace, the fare hikes and service cuts were blasted by hundreds of riders who turned out at public hearings during the last month. The measures are supposed to fill a $23 million budget hole by the end of the year unless more tax dollars are forthcoming.
At the Statehouse, lawmakers have been cool for months to the quarter-cent sales tax hike, but a recent change in the proposal is giving supporters hope.
The measure now calls for Chicago to raise its own tax on property sales to fund a CTA pension deficit while giving more control and money to suburban leaders.
Under the legislation, Pace could gain about $50 million a year. Collar Counties would also get another quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund road building.
In total, the plan would add 50 cents to a $100 bill in the Collar Counties and 25 cents in suburban Cook County. It would also push the overall sales tax rate in many suburbs close to 10 percent.
Despite the optimism, Pace officials said they had to move forward with some cuts and fare hikes to balance the books by the end of the year.
"We can't write checks on the float," said Pace board member Aaron Shepley, Crystal Lake's mayor.
Fares for city Pace routes and Metra feeders will rise from $1.25 to $1.50, and 23 under-performing routes will be cut Sept. 1. At the same time, ADA paratransit fares will go up in the Collar Counties from $2.50 to $3.
Pace will stop accepting CTA passes Oct. 1, and on Dec. 3 all Metra feeders will be cut.
Originally, Pace officials said regular Pace fares would rise from $1.50 to $2 and all weekend service would be eliminated. But those measures were pushed to Jan. 1 or shortly after.
Even if Pace does get all the funding it wants from the tax increases, there is no guarantee all the fee hikes will be erased and service cuts restored, agency spokeswoman Judi Kulm said.
Kulm said Pace officials aren't yet sure if the approved cuts and fare hikes will be enough to cover this year's budget gap.
"The changes are due to the fact that we are hopeful (lawmakers) will come through," she said.