CTA fares to go up, express routes and operation hours cut

The CTA's plan to close a $300 budget deficit. Two local routes that will be affected is the X3 King Drive and the X4 Cottage Grove.

The major changes would include:

• Basic train fares to $3 from $2.25.

• Basic bus fares to $2.50 from $2.25.

• Express bus fares to $3 from as little as $2.25 now.

• Full fare 30-day passes to $110 from $86.

• Seven-day passes to $30 from $23.

In addition, express bus service would no longer be available on nine routes: X3, X4, X9, X20, X49, X54, X55, X80 and 53 AL.

Hours of operation also would be reduced on 41 other bus routes, generally in the early morning and late night. Each would lose between 25 minutes and about three hours of service a day, with a few routes even more.

In addition, buses and trains would run less frequently. Effective Feb. 7, the CTA is proposing to eliminate 827,000 hours of bus service (or 13.7 percent), and 57,803 hours of rail service (or 9.8 percent) across all bus routes and rail lines. These reductions would be spread across the day to affect the lease [SIC] number of customers, the CTA said.

I will also refer you to the CTA Tattler which talks about the proposed fare hikes and express bus and operation hours cuts.

The first link that takes you to Chicago Breaking News posted an image of the notice of public hearing regarding the 2010 budget. One of these hearings takes place at South Shore Cultural Center @ 7059 South Shore Drive on November 3, 2009 at 6 PM. An informational meeting on proposed fare hikes and service cuts will be held at the Austin Town Hall @ 5610 W. Lake Street on October 29, 2009 at 6 PM. Those are opportunities to learn more, but also to speak your mind!