CTA Cuts are Coming

By Lindsey Miller in News on Jan 21, 2010 7:40PM

Significant bus and train service cuts and employee layoffs and are still set to begin on Feb. 7 for the CTA, despite an offer it made to labor unions today. The CTA offered to reduce the impact of the cuts in two weeks if its employees give back the 3.5 percent pay raise they received this year. The labor unions said no -- employees hadn't received a raise in four years.

A total of 1,067 union and 100 nonunion stand to lose their jobs. In addition, there will be longer waits on 119 bus routes, 41 routes will have shorter hours of operation, and nine express bus routes will be cut altogether. The Chicago Tribune has a nifty graphic that details the cuts in terms of bus number and time.

Seven of eight rail lines will see less-frequent service as well. The CTA explains the rail cuts in a brochure and on its website. The good news that is fares won't increase, at least for two years.

The CTA projects that it will save $95.6 million on layoffs and service cuts and another $32 million on salary freezes and furloughs for nonunion employees. In addition, the $90 million that was set to go to capital improvements has been moved to the operating budget, which will delay repairs.