If transit riders thought the 2007 “doomsday” scenarios are bad, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” RTA Chairman Jim Reilly said.

Chicago Transit Authority service cuts that could take effect next month are just a small taste of what could come next year without new state funding, an agency executive said Thursday.

“CTA service would be completely decimated,” cut as much as 75%, CTA Executive Vice-president Dorval Carter said at the Regional Transportation Authority board meeting. “You’ll see CTA customers stranded as their transit options disappear.”

Without a new transit funding package from state lawmakers, the CTA could also raise cash fares next year to as high as $6 to plug what could be a $250-million hole in its operating budget, Mr. Carter said. Single-ride cash fares are currently $2.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a state budget Thursday for fiscal 2008 that does not include new transit funding.

Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano said his agency could be forced to raise fares 10% to 15% next year, reduce weekend service and possibly reduce weekday rush-hour service. Pace Executive Director T. J. Ross said his agency would cut all suburban weekend bus service and raise the fare for paratransit service, for riders with disabilities, to $4 from $2.25.

The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the public transit plan on Sept. 4, RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman said.

The CTA has warned that it will cut 39 bus routes and raise some cash rail fares by half, to $3 from $2, on Sept. 16 if it doesn’t receive assurances of additional funding from Springfield.

Once again I have to wonder how Mr. Daley expects to hold the 2016 Olympics here. With hundreds of thousands of people coming to Chicago for the Olympics, how are they expected to get around? How are people staying in the suburbs expected to get downtown for the Games? With decreased public transportation we’re increasing the amount of cars on the streets, thus increasing pollution, traffic, accidents, etc. We cannot put the games on hold because the few CTA trains running were delayed.

Chicago needs to get its priorities straight and soon. With all these cuts, public transportation will see a huge decrease in riders. I suggest funding something that matters instead of giving legislators another salary increase Mr. Blagojevich.