Pace contemplating service cuts, fare hikes
Pace will hold hearings this month on proposals to slash or reduce service on more than 50 bus routes serving the suburbs and raise paratransit fares.
The transit agency has been facing budget problems involving its paratransit service for disabled riders, and recently came up with a contingency plan to avoid a $20 million shortfall.
The agency has posted a notice about the upcoming 2010 budget on its Web site, alerting riders that changes could mean reducing service on eight routes, eliminating 28 weekday routes, dropping 12 Saturday routes and cutting four Sunday routes.
It could also raise paratransit fares to $3.50 in the suburbs and $4.50 in Chicago. This comes as Pace has just finished hearings on raising paratransit fares to $3 overall.
Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said nothing is written in stone for either fares or bus routes. He noted that just because buses are listed for elimination on the agency's Web site, it does not mean that will necessarily happen. Pace will not release its draft budget until Oct. 14 and it's up to the board of directors to decide what to include, he said.
"There is a very important difference between these potential actions and the actual proposed budget, because the board has not approved the release of a proposed budget," Wilmot said.
Meanwhile, one paratransit advocate said he's been contacted by numerous riders with disabilities fearful about rising costs.
"This will be devastating to so many that rely on this form of public transportation, many of whom have incomes well below poverty levels," said James Watkins, a member of the Regional Transportation Authority's ADA advisory committee.
Round trip fares of $7 in the suburbs and $9 in Chicago will burden riders, Watkins said, adding that since Pace took over paratransit for Chicagoans from the Chicago Transit Authority in 2006, "it has been one problem after another."
For more information, visit the Pace Web site at www.pacebus.com.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=325785">Possible cutbacks to Pace bus routes<span class="date"> [10/1/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=325786">Hearings on Pace changes<span class="date"> [10/1/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>