Cost-cutting dilemma faces Metra riders across region

Metra riders will either face a 10 percent fare hike next year or a 5 percent increase coupled with Sunday service cuts, transit officials said Thursday as grapple with a $40 million shortfall.

Meanwhile, the CTA is planning to ax more than two dozen bus routes while raising rush hour el fares to well over $3.

The three transit agencies say the "doomsday" measures are inevitable unless lawmakers step in with some form of tax increase to bail them out.

Pace and CTA have a litany of fare hikes and route cuts set for the weekend of Nov. 4, unless the state legislature takes action before then. Yet lawmakers still appear to be worlds apart on a funding solution.

Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said Thursday officials have no choice but to get more money out of riders and cut service.

Metra officials also plan to cut about 100 administrative positions, freeze non-union salaries and reduce cleaning service for the trains.

Lawmakers have been debating a sales tax increase to prevent the transit system meltdown for months, but Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and many Republicans oppose the idea. Other possibilities include diverting current gas tax revenue from roads to transit or raising business taxes.