CTA Fare Hikes Likely, Meeting Postponed

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CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS 2) ― The CTA board meeting that was scheduled for today has not been postponed until tomorrow.

That's because the CTA failed to post a meeting notice required by the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

When Newsradio 780 inquired as to why a meeting notice had not been posted, the CTA elected to postpone the meeting until Thursday.

The transit agency board had been set to vote on a proposed fare hike of 25 cents Wednesday.

Ridership has been up significantly in this year of high gas prices and decreased driving. But CTA President Huberman said a fare hike is needed to avoid service cuts and keep trains and buses running at current levels.

"Twenty-five cents more is a lot," a commuter said.

In many recent years, the CTA has warned of "doomsday" scenarios which have called for the elimination of everything from scores of bus routes to all overnight 'L' train service. The CTA ultimately found ways to avoid all those outcomes, and now, Huberman is emphasizing that the CTA's current predicament does not constitute a "doomsday."

"Today is not doomsday. Today is a tough budget year," he said.

But Huberman said despite ridership being way up, a fare hike is the only way to plug a $42 million budget hole.

He said record high fuel and energy costs, lower than expected tax revenues and free rides for some people, including seniors, are to blame. Last year, the CTA had threatened to eliminate 81 bus routes and raise fares as high as $3.25 if Springfield did not grant additional funds. Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved funding help for the CTA, but ordered free rides for seniors early this year as a condition.

CTA officials say Blagojevich's mandate cost the Transit Authority $26.5 million.

"It's kind of annoying that that would go up for everyone else because seniors aren't paying. And I think they should too in order to keep the fares down," a commuter said.

But not all commuters took issue with the fare hike plan.

"I personally don't have a problem with some fare increase, because I do know that the cost of living and everything else is going up, so I don't have a problem with it," said CTA rider Joe Washington. "I just hope that if this should happen, I would hope that they don't continue to keep raising the prices, and they come with a plan for at least the next five years or so to keep the fares the same.

So what would riders pay? Card bus fares would go up to $2 from $1.75. If passengers pay cash, the fare would be $2.25. Each train ride would cost $2.25 – up from $2. All passes would increase too. For instance, a three-day visitor pass would go up to$15 from $12. And the Chicago Card discount would be eliminated.

If the board passes the rate hike on Thursday, the new fares would go into effect in January. But Huberman has been quick to point out it would only keep service intact, not go towards infrastructure improvements. He says that would take a massive capital bill out of Springfield and lawmakers have failed to do that.