BY AMY
LEE / Transit reporter
A transit watchdog group says Chicagoans pay more to ride public transit
than residents of other major cities, and that proposed 2009 fare increases
would further burden riders dependent on the system for travel.
Citizens Taking Action, an advocacy group for transit-dependent riders,
conducted an "informal" study of transit costs in several urban
areas, including New York, Boston and Los Angeles, among others. The group
calculated a national average for basic rides and weekly and monthly passes and
found Chicago Transit Authority rates are among the most costly in the nation.
The study found
the nationwide average for a basic fare is $1.53, compared CTA's rate of $1.75
per bus ride or $2 for the El. Weekday passes nationwide average $17.80 and
monthly passes average $58.43, while the CTA charges $24 for a weekly pass and
$75 for a monthly pass.
The results of the survey are based on current CTA rates. The agency in
2009 has proposed hiking fares to $2 for the bus and $2.25 for the El, $24 for
weekly and $90 for monthly passes.
The Citizens Taking Action survey results echo a 2007 Daily News
analysis, which found the CTA had the most expensive fares of the nation's
largest transit agencies.
A subsequent Daily News investigation
found the CTA pays among the highest wages of any major U.S. urban transit
system, devotes a bigger share of its operating budget to payroll than all but
a few other big systems, and had created fiscal chaos by mismanaging its
pension system.
This week, Citizens Taking Action acknowledged comparing transit systems is
difficult due to variations on zones, peak/off peak travel times, paid versus
free transfers, express services, bulk discount tickets and other
variables.
Despite the variables, the group argues Chicagoans pay more to ride than
transit riders in other major U.S. Cities.
"It's tough to advocate the use of public transit when the deciding
officials work against you," Charles Paidock, secretary of the
organization, said in a statement. He could not be reached for further comment
today.
"We've heard the same old argument before that there hasn't been an
increase for a year or two, therefore it's time to do it again," Paidock
says. "Other cities are looking to lower or eliminate fares altogether to
reduce congestion or pollution, and increase ridership, but Chicago's going in
the opposite direction."
In addition to the proposed increases to ride the cities buses and train,
the suburban bus service Pace this week announced for the first time in eight
years it will also seek a fare increase to balance its 2009 budget. The agency
is facing a $20 million budget shortfall.
According to the proposed Pace budget, regular adult fares will increase by
a quarter to $1.75, and adult fares on Metra Feeder service -- as well as in
local fare zones in Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, and Waukegan -- will increase by 50
cents to $1.75. Vanpool fares would rise by 10 percent, but fares for Pace
paratransit riders would remain the same.
"We realize that no one likes a fare increase, but the pressures of a
slow economy and rising expenses have become too much to bear," Pace board
Chairman Richard Kwasneski said in a statement.
Pace officials blame rising fuel costs, free rides programs and a decrease
in public funding for running up higher-than-expected expenses in 2008.
Pace has scheduled 13 public hearings on
its proposed 2009 budget.
Amy Lee is a Chicago-based journalist. She covers
transit issues for the Daily News.
Tagged: Transit
BACK TO www.CTAriders.org