CTA Board Approves Two Budgets for 2005
- By Kevin Zolkiewicz
The Chicago Transit Board on Monday approved two budgets for 2005, one which includes additional state funding and one which does not. What budget is implemented will ultimately be determined within the next couple of weeks as the Illinois General Assembly meets for their fall veto session.
If no additional state funding is received in 2005, the CTA says it will implement its Gridlock Budget which includes significant service cuts. The service cuts would be necessary in order to cover the $88 million deficit the CTA is facing next year.
Regardless of which budget is implemented, the base fare for CTA will remain at $1.75.
Although approving a paratransit fare increase, the board voted to allow children of paratransit customers to receive discounts similar to those on mainline service.
The board also approved raising the Park-and-Ride fee to $2 and increasing the University Pass fee by 10 cents per day.