Results tagged “sheilanix”

We outlined for you yesterday the specifics of the actual fare increases, but there are a few other tidbits we missed. First, as part of the new budget the CTA passed, 632 workers will be laid off, with as many as 200 losing their jobs before the new budget (and fare hikes) go into effect on January 1. As for the reason that long-term passes increased by only 15 percent instead of 20: "Transit board Chairman Carole Brown said that change was made possible by halting employee enrollment in a "supplemental" pension program for senior staff, a move that was expected to save $3.6 million."

Another contributing factor the the current CTA shortfall is the almost $20 million $26.5 million in projected lost revenue from providing free rides to seniors, the arm twisting maneuver that Blagojevich rammed into the most recent transit bill. Did we mention that Ms. Nix was the governor's on the free ride program? Yeah, neither did she. [S-T]