The Chicago Transit Authority faces a $77 million budget deficit, with serious consequences for commuters and CTA workers.

If the Illinois General Assembly does not find a way to provide the funds needed to avoid this crisis, service will be sliced by 20%, all overnight L trains will be eliminated, night owl service on all bus lines would be cut from twice to once an hour, 30 bus routes will no longer exist, and 1,000 to 1,250 union workers -- mostly bus drivers and train operators -- will be layed off. A total of 415 buses will be taken out of circulation, nine bus routes will be shortened, bus service hours will be reduced by 21.5%, and rail service hours by 11%. The service on the Red and Blue Lines will be cut from 1 to 4AM, and on the Brown and Orange Lines from 10PM to 5AM.

CTA staff has drafted two budgets, one showing more money from Springfield and one that does not. They include an additional $9 million in new revenue from rate increases that include: - Increasing fees for paratransit disabled people from $1.75 to $3.50 for a single ride and $75 to $150 for a monthly pass; - Boosting parking fees by 25 cents to $3; - Raising U-Pass rates by a dime to 70 cents. CTA leaders have scheduled public hearings, with details at www.bettertransit.com

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Related links: Keep Chicagoland Moving | All Routes Proposed for Complete Elimination | All Routes With Proposed Reduced Service Hours

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