Parking space tax? RTA weighs idea

As the clock ticks closer toward a transit "doomsday," officials are backing away from a sales tax hike and opening up to ideas like a property tax on parking spaces.

"We are at the end of our rope," said Steve Schlickman, director of the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees Metra, Pace and the CTA. "If the sales tax is not going to fly, obviously we are open to other taxes."

If the transit agencies don't get more tax money by Nov. 4, riders will start to endure an escalating succession of fare hikes and service cuts. By early next year, transit officials say suburbanites might lose all weekend service and scores of weekday routes while paying 10 to 50 percent more.

For months, the RTA has been pushing a sales tax hike to account for part of a $430 million boost in transit funding. But Gov. Rod Blagojevich's threat to veto the deal has prevented it from gaining enough support among lawmakers.

Other ideas that have been floated include an increase in business property taxes based on the number of parking spaces. The plan has been widely opposed in the suburbs because of the proliferation of malls but could gain support among lawmakers hesitant to raise taxes directly on people.

Siphoning gas taxes away from road repairs and into transit is another idea that has been making the rounds. Still, lawmakers would likely be pressured to raise other taxes to fill the resulting loss in road money.

Lawmakers are expected to pick up debate on transit funding next week.