Chicago Transit authority...

The New CEO of the system is featured in this article, "CTA's new CEO," from the Red Eye, the Chicago area's equivalent of the Express. This sidebar, "Priority No. 1," lists the four priorities suggested by riders:

- ending bus bunching
- l istening to riders
- revving up revenue
- improving employee attitude.

Last year, now disgraced former Governor Blogojevich "forced" Chicago area transit systems to provide free rides to seniors, regardless of the ability to pay. This policy is under review, see "Free rides for seniors under the microscope."

Free transit makes it to the Planetizen website, here "Why Is Fare-Free Transit The Exception Rather Than The Rule?"

In theory, I think it's worth considering free transit. But as the op-ed shows, it works in places where overall there isn't that much transit. In larger cities, where transit is heavily used, the cost is considerable and beyond most local and state budgets.

San Francisco considered it (I have never been able to find the final report online), but found the increase in the amount of equipment required was beyond the budget. See "Free ride? Fat chance: Muni fares will stay" from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A free weekly in the Vancouver, BC region, had a nice series on free transit. See "No Fares! :: Series" from the Tyee.