More fallout from the whole free rides for seniors and the fuel prices from the past summer.Illinois lawmakers will decide whether — and how much — to reimburse the Regional Transportation Authority for revenue lost from seniors’ free rides on public transit.
The loss of revenue from allowing seniors to ride free is just one of several factors putting financial pressure on the RTA.
The RTA, which oversees the area’s three public transit agencies, should learn in December whether the state will restore roughly $37 million it lost by allowing seniors free passage on Pace, Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority routes. The free rides were mandated in January by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, in exchange for his last-minute approval for increasing the sales tax rate to provide much-needed public transportation funds.
If the state government fails to replenish the lost revenue, the CTA and Pace will consider raising fares next year, RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman said Monday.
It's not guaranteed that fares will rise if the $37 million is not restored.
As for the 2009 fuel bill, the RTA is budgeting $250 million. Agency officials thought fuel would cost $150 million this year, but it looks like it will cost $200 million.
Oh here's a story about Mayor Daley's response to the Governor's comments from last week.
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