19 October 2011

No Fare Hikes, Service Cuts in CTA Budget: Claypool

CTA riders can breathe a sigh of relief. The agency's 2012 budget proposal spares them from fare hikes and service cuts.

"I cannot ask our riders to walk farther and pay more until we have gone to our labor partners and ask for reforms," said CTA president Forrest Claypool.

Claypool said the budget, which came in at 5 percent less than last year, instead will rely on deep management cuts and work-rule changes from labor unions.

Clayool also warned up to 1,000 CTA workers would be laid off if no labor concessions were made. 

The CTA raised fares in 2009 and cut service last year.

Claypool warned earlier this month that hard decisions would be on the horizon to fix the system's fiscal situation. He said the agency borrowed $554 million in the past four years, despite cuts.

"We can’t defer the hard decisions any longer," Claypool said.

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