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And still they spend…
By Charles | March 11, 2008
The CTA wants more money from the Chicago/Cook County/Illinois taxpayer, and they want it NOW! Even though the CTA’s own numbers show an amazing windfall throughout the past few years, they can’t seem to controll themselves when it comes to putting thier greasy fat fingers in our pockets. And the worst part is that the Democrats are letting them do it!
The CTA claims that they have a $158 million shortfall in their budget and they want us to pick up that tab as well. The question must be asked “who is running this show?” How can the CTA leaderhip be this inept?
In 2005, the cost of a trip on the CTA was $1.75. Today, it cost the average rider $2.75 to catch a train or a bus. Having provided almost 500 million rides last year (see below) that equals approximately 41.6 million rides a month, or 114.5 million dollars a month from hard working people living in and around Chicago. Yet, still they want more.
The elected Republican leadership in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois General Assemblies need to stand up to this graft. How much more (on top of the current 10.5% sales tax in Chicago) do we have to put up with? Who will fight for the people of Illinois? If the CTA can’t survive with an increasing ridership year over year for the past 9 out of 10 years as well as a 60% fare increase in 3 years (providing it with $114.5 Million a month) and maintain its ability to keep the services running, perhaps the leadership needs to be replaced.
CTA must cut $200 million from new
train, bus budget
- By Jon Hilkevitch | Tribune reporter
- March 6, 2008
The Chicago Transit Authority is being forced to cut $200 million from its already underfunded budget for new trains and buses, rail station improvements and other key projects because state leaders have failed to come up with a new capital-improvement program, officials said Wednesday.The CTA board will be asked to approve the cutbacks — $40 million a year in lost state funding through 2012 — at its meeting next week.
CTA Has Now Achieved Ridership Increases in Nine of the Past 10 Years
The CTA today announced that 2007 combined bus and rail ridership increased by 4.7 million rides, a gain of 1 percent over 2006 ridership, for a total of 499.5 million rides. It is the highest ridership level since 1992. CTA has gained 60 million annual rides since the lowest year of 1997.Weekend ridership showed the strongest rate of growth throughout the year. Saturday ridership in 2007 increased by 1.1 percent over last year and Sunday/Holiday ridership increased by 1.9 percent.The CTA’s bus system posted particularly strong gains. The bus system provided 309.3 million rides, an increase of 10.8 million rides over 2006, or a gain of 3.6 percent. Throughout the year, bus boardings surpassed levels not seen since1994.
Topics: Illinois, Local Issues |
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