The Chicago Transit Authority's Budget Crunch: The Unfairness of the Fair Increases

For the past few months, Chicago Transit Authority, has been crying wolf about the transit problems and their budget. Often times, blaming the government for not hearing their cries earlier this summer, but as an avid rider, I have to wonder who side they are really on. Beginning November 4th, the Chicago bus fares will rise for cash riders, or those who have bus passes.

If you are a cash rider, you will have to dip into your pocket book, a lot more. During peak hours, you may have to pay up to $3.25 per ride on the train to get where you need to go. Weekly bus passes will rise to $23 and monthly passes will increase to a monthly fee of $84. If Springfield doesn't do it's job, we will see even more increases and bus cuts in Doomsday #2 (January 2008). High priced bail out ticket: $10 MILLION!

It's amazing, that after all we've been through in Chicago that we (the regular people) have to pay for the sins of others. I think it's unfair to place this financial burden on riders who already have enough increases in this city to deal with.

Who's getting taken for a ride? No matter if you are middle class, lower, or upper, if you take any of the buses in Chicago you will be impacted by the fare increases along with the bus cuts that will take place in early November. A reported 39 buses will be cut in November which will cause job layoffs, increased travel time, and packed buses and trains. Leaving ½ to 1 hour early for your destination may be something that will commonly occur.

The blame game between Chicago Transit Authority's officials and Springfield have been going on for quite some time. Chicago Transit Authority says that it needs at least a few million just to get their budget back on track, and Regional Transit Authority is asking for some money as well.