CTA Service Cuts Start Today

By Anna Deem in News on Feb 7, 2010 7:30PM

The day has finally come. No, not the Super Bowl, but CTA service cut day. Starting today, nine express buses will be eliminated, 41 bus routes will see their start and/or end times change, and 78 buses will see less frequent service. All rail lines except for the Yellow Line will also see less frequent service. In addition, 1,057 CTA employees--including 903 bus drivers and 116 rail operators--will be laid off.

For more detailed information on which bus routes and rail lines are being affected and how, please visit the CTA's website. In the meantime, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that transit agency officials and union leaders continued their talks this weekend to discuss ways to cut $95 million from the 2010 budget. Although the meeting cleared up some hostility between the two sides, it was still too late to stop the service cuts. "We were at a stalemate. He did open up the dialogue. That's a start," said Robert Kelly, head of Amalgamated Transit Union 308, which represents rail workers, to the Sun-Times.

The union and CTA agreed to talk again in the next few days. CTA Chairman Terry Peterson promised that staff would work hard to restore service and jobs if the two sides can reach a deal in the coming weeks.