CTA Proposes Cash Fares Increase in 2006
- By Kevin Zolkiewicz
Chicago Transit Authority President Frank Kruesi today presented his 2006 proposed budget plan that would maintain current service levels, but raise fares by 25 cents for cash paying riders. The agency cited higher costs of fuel, healthcare, claims and litigated expenses as the reason for the proposed increase.
Cash fares and rail fares paid with Transit Cards would climb to $2. Transfers would no longer be available to those paying with cash. The fare changes are expected to generate $17 million in revenue, helping to balance the budget and preventing the need for service cuts.
Customers using the Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus would see no change in fares. The CTA plans to waive the $5 purchase fee for the cards from December 1, 2005 through the first quarter of 2006.
The cost for passes, such as the 7-day or 30-day passes, would remain unchanged.
The CTA Board will still need to approve the 2006 budget and proposed fare changes at its November 9th meeting. A public hearing on the changes is scheduled for October 27th at 4 p.m., CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake Street.
Written comments on the proposed budget may be submitted through November 4, 2005, by writing to the following address: Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7567, Chicago, IL 60680-7567, Attention: Gregory Longhini, Assistant Secretary.
E-mail comments may be submitted through November 4, 2005, by writing to CTABoard@transitchicago.com.
Please refer to the “official CTA press release”:http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=100074 for more details about the proposed budget and fare changes.
“Download PDF of Proposed 2006 Budget”:http://www.transitchicago.com/downloads/budget/2006sum.pdf