RTA: Cuts, fare hikes imminent
Metra, Pace and CTA officials drew a budget line in the sand Thursday.
After pressing for nearly a year for tax hikes to fill a collective $240 million budget hole, transit officials said Thursday time is quickly running out for lawmakers to stop a cascade of fare hikes and service cuts.
"There has been some thought that we might be bluffing or exaggerating," said Jim Reilly, chair of the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees Metra, the CTA and Pace. "But in truth - you ain't seen nothing yet, as they say."
The RTA board voted Thursday to approve fare increases and service cuts recently outlined by the CTA, Metra and Pace as a quarter-cent sales tax increase proposal remains on life support in Springfield.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pledged to veto the proposal. House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones, both Chicago Democrats, have largely ignored the issue. It remains unclear if enough lawmakers support the tax hikes because the measure has not been called for a vote.
The budget's approval sets up a countdown toward fare increases and service reductions in lieu of the tax hikes:
On Sept. 16:
•Pace local and Metra feeder fares rise to $1.50, ADA service fares increase to $3, vanpool fares jump 10 percent
• Metra reduces repairs and expansions by $60 million
• CTA lays off 600, raises fares to $3 on rush hour trains, cuts 39 bus routes
On Sept. 29:
• Pace stops 29 main routes
On Oct. 1
• ADA service slashed to within three-quarters of a mile of regular routes
• CTA passes no longer accepted by Pace
Dec. 3:
• Pace cuts all Metra feeder routes (about 80 in all)
In 2008:
• Pace fares rise to $2, all weekend service cut
• ADA fares upped to $4
• CTA contemplates doubling fares, cutting north suburb el service.
• Metra looks to reduce weekend/night runs, raise fares 10 percent
The agencies receive much of their subsidies from a quarter-cent sales tax in the collar counties and a half-cent sales tax in Cook County.
The new transit taxes would add 25 cents to a $100 tab and raise the overall sales tax in some suburbs to nearly 10 percent, or $10 on every $100 bill.