Chicago is My Home

15
Oct

CTA President Ron Huberman Writes New Letter to Chicago Commuters

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

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As Chicagoans know all too well, the battle between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the state wages on. On Oct. 12, I received the following letter from CTA President Ron Huberman:

Dear CTA customer,

I unveiled [on Oct. 12] the CTA’s proposed 2008 budget that lays out a series of painful service cuts, fare increases and layoffs that will happen on Jan. 6, 2008.

These actions are required to meet our legal obligation to submit a balanced budget and are in addition to those service cuts and fare increases that will take effect on Nov. 4.

All of us at the CTA understand that these service cuts and fare increases will cause you a tremendous hardship. We know you will face fewer travel options, less frequent service and more crowded buses and trains.

To make matters worse, the drastic measures described in the 2008 budget are in addition to the service cuts, fare increases and layoffs that will take place on Nov. 4 if the Illinois legislature does not enact fundamental funding reforms.

It is important for our customers to know that all of us at the CTA do not want to see this budget become reality. We remain hopeful that the Illinois General Assembly will pass a long-term funding solution.

Please know that we sought to minimize the impact of our budget deficit wherever we could. For example, we reduced our costs by [more than] $38 million [in 2007] alone without impacting service.

The CTA and its unions have also agreed to an unprecedented five-year contract contingent on legislative action [that] would enable the CTA to reduce costs and manage itself more like a business.

The Illinois legislature, however, has yet to pass the bill that would give the CTA authority to put these reforms in place. This inaction is costing the CTA more than $11 million each month.

While the CTA continues to look for every opportunity to cut costs, there is simply no way we can manage our way out of a $158 million deficit in 2008.

The CTA continues to fight for sufficient transit funding. We need your help. Please contact the governor and your state legislators and tell them how important mass transit funding is to you.

In addition to calling or writing your legislators, you can go to TransitChicago.com [and] a link will allow you to easily send a message.

With your support, we are hopeful that we will finally get a long-term solution to the CTA’s funding shortfalls and put future “doomsdays” to rest. If the state enacts pending legislation before Nov. 4, these service cuts and fare increases will not go into effect.

Sincerely yours,
Ron Huberman
President
Chicago Transit Authority