Chicago region faces major transit cuts

The story "'Doomsday' looms: Come Sunday, riders could face dramatic changes in their lives," in the Chicago Tribune, which also has video and other links, lists the changes coming Monday, if there isn't a last minute financial assistance program provided to the Chicago Regional Transit Authority. From the article:

Unless state lawmakers come up with a last-minute remedy to eliminate multimillion-dollar budget deficits, the CTA and Pace plan to scale back bus service, raise fares and lay off hundreds of employees effective Sunday, leaving service on only the most essential routes. In addition, CTA fares would increase by as much as $1 per ride. Fares on some Pace shuttle routes would go up, too, and paratransit fares regionwide would rise to $3.

The General Assembly is scheduled to be in session Friday, but the prospects for an 11th-hour deal are clouded by the same disagreements that have lingered for months over tax increases, expansion of casino gambling and spending on a new statewide capital-improvement program to shore up aging infrastructure.

"We are frustrated to be here today, six weeks after we delayed the service cuts and fare hikes to give the legislature more time to address the funding issues," CTA President Ron Huberman said Wednesday." And we are disappointed on behalf of our riders and our employees that we're forced to put people through angst," added Huberman, saying the legislature must act before midnight Saturday to stave off the service cuts and fare increases. "But unfortunately, we are out of options."