Now that gas prices have dropped well below the $4.35 a gallon price it averaged during the summer, the Chicago Transit Authority Board has approved a fare increase that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Now that gas prices have dropped well below the $4.35 a gallon price it averaged during the summer, the Chicago Transit Authority Board has approved a fare increase that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Fares will increase 25 cents to $2.25 for full fare riders who pay cash or use a transit card. But for rail riders using a Chicago Card, the fare goes to $2.25 from $1.75, a 50 cents increase. Reduced fare cards, which are used by students and the disabled will remain the same.
To further balance the budget, the CTA will eliminate the 10 percent Chicago Card bonus, and the twoday and five-day visitor passes. It will also increase prices for other passes. The one-day pass will increase to $5.75 from $5, three-day pass goes to $14 from $12, sevenday jumps to $23 from $20, and the 30-day pass leaps to $86 from $75. According to CTA President Ron Huberman, service will be maintained at 2008 levels and it plans to explore ways to keep fares affordable.
“CTA will continue to examine its operations and find ways to streamline costs but will do so in a manner that does not adversely impact the quality of the service we provide our customers,” Huberman said.
“Customer service and satisfaction is our primary focus and we will continue to address the issues that concern our customers the most.” Still some riders are not happy about the fare increase.
“When gas prices were high, the CTA was telling everyone to use public transportation and save on gas. Now because gas prices have dropped, they think people can afford to pay higher fares and we can’t,” said Gertrude Baker, 47. “I can barely afford to eat, and now the CTA wants me to pay them more money for the same old lousy service.”
And other riders agree with Baker. “Are they kidding me or what? They want more but are not offering anything in return, said Matthew Jemison, 28, “I work on the South Side but live on the West Side, so I take public transportation everyday. But if I am going to pay more for the CTA to get me to work late, which is usually the case, then I might as well go buy a car.”
With resources directed at operations, administrative and support staffing will be reduced by 396 positions compared to 2008, he added. In addition, due to a reduced capital program, 236 positions that were funded by capital projects will also be eliminated, for a total workforce reduction of 632.
The CTA expects to generate $598.2 million in fares and other revenue, and anticipates $723.3 million in public funding. And this year’s $1.3 billion budget is $115 million higher than 2008.
For its part, the CTA held a public hearing Oct. 29 at CTA headquarters to get feedback from riders.
Carole Brown, CTA board chair, said the economy is hurting everyone including government agencies.
“In today’s economic climate government agencies, private businesses and individual households are facing budget challenges and CTA is no exception; nevertheless, the Board takes very seriously the public comments it receives, and this year, customers were very concerned about potential fare increases,” she said. “After careful consideration of all the factors that go into putting together the budget, the Board has amended the President’s recommendation to provide some relief to our customers. Instead of raising pass fares by 20 percent, the budget passed by the board will only raise them by about 15 percent.”
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