Everyone's Got to Get in on the Action

By Jocelyn Geboy in Miscellaneous on Jun 20, 2007 2:00PM

We all know that the problems that CTA is having is part crap management and part a real failure to figure out how to properly fund the whole works. And we've been talking about all of this budget stuff for awhile after they threatened to hike our fares and cut our service. However even with the looming $226 million combined budget shortfall for 2007, Springfield has shown little sign that comprehensive transit funding is on their list of priorities. Blago met with CTA officials Wednesday and indicated he wants to give $100 million to the CTA. According to a spokeswoman for the governor, he plans to meet with Metra and Pace officials, but nothing's scheduled yet.

But Metra and Pace officials aren't happy about getting left out of funding discussions in Springfield, and laid out their own fare-increase and service-cut scenarios last Friday. Of the two, Pace's would kick in first with higher fares by Sept. 1 and cuts affecting 68 percent of its suburban bus routes starting in October. The agency also would eliminate 23 fixed-route services, Metra feeder and shuttle routes, weekend service and special event service. And without an additional $27 million in state funding for paratransit service, fees for disabled and elderly riders will also increase to $4 . Pace said it also would be forced to restrict paratransit service to the minimum level allowed by federal law.

We told you back in February that Metra had record ridership, but that they also were using maintenance money to operate the joint. We also know how well that works here in Chicago proper. Metra's deal could involve a possible 10 percent increase in fares every two years starting in 2008 and possible elimination of weekend train service and trains after 9 p.m. (That's no way for the tourists to get from Naperville to the Bean!)

Metra has already proposed diverting $60 million in capital funds to offset this year's shortfall, if necessary. On Friday, however, Metra Chairwoman Carole Doris feels that the agency is being penalized for its "responsible stewardship" of the agency and is discouraged that no one is "moving forward on a comprehensive package." We're discouraged, too, Doris.

"Chicago Metra Corridor at Grant Park" by Nikonrobin