The CTA is threatening to eliminate 63 bus routes and two rail lines and raise rates if it doesn’t receive any new state funding. The CTA needs $110 million in new funding.

They would also institute a separate and higher fare for rush hour, much like New York.

The combined fare hike and service cuts would begin in mid-September and would result in a loss of 260,000 rides each weekday. The CTA estimates that its buses and trains provide 1.6 million rides each day right now.

Under the new plan, only bus routes that operate on Sundays will remain. That’s only 91 routes! The Purple Line/Evanston Express will be eliminated as will service on the yellow line. As a result, 840 employees will be laid off.

CTA President Ron Huberman claims his plan isn’t an attempt to pressure state law makers into funding more money. “If we made no changes, the CTA would be out of service in October.”

Fares could increase as much as $7 (much like our gas). $.25 to $1.25 will be added to fares depending on the time of day and mode of travel. Buses will increase from $2 to $2.25 ($2.75 during rush hour) and trains will increase from $2 to $2.50 ($3.25 during rush hour). The monthly pass will increase from $75 to $122.

I have to ask. If Daley and his Chicago can’t keep our trains working, how in the hell does he expect to host the Olympics here when our public transportation system isn’t working? Will there be moving sidewalks? Honestly…we can’t stop our corrupt government and we can’t maintain our transportation or gas…how is this city prepared to host an extra million people? It’s not.