ChicagoBus.org News Briefs

CTA Funding Crisis Continues to Loom

March 30, 2005 – By Kevin Zolkiewicz

When the Chicago Transit Board voted last December to postpone service cuts, it meant that even more drastic cuts could be necessary come July 2005. The move to hold off on the cuts came after the Illinois General Assembly failed to provide additional funding for the agency last November.

While the CTA is still campaigning for additional funding, it is also preparing plans which could cut service by up to 40% or raise fares to as high as $3.40 starting this July. The service cuts and/or fare increases are needed in order for the CTA to plug a $55 million budget deficit.

Earlier this month, the CTA released five possible service cut and fare increase scenarios which the Chicago Transit Board is currently reviewing. A public hearing on the plans is currently scheduled for April 7th.

More information on the funding crisis is available at keepchicagolandmoving.com.