With 40% service cuts looming, a new plan would remake the CTA and Metra – Crain’s*

L tracks in front of Chicago skyline

With a looming financial cliff threatening to force cuts by as much as 40% in Chicago-area public transit service, voters are getting their first look at a plan that's spent months in development on how to remake the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace for the post-COVID era. The plan is, to use its own word, “bold” — calling for new investments and fare cuts funded by expanding the state sales tax to cover more services and raising tolls on the Illinois Tollway, a shift of service away from its current downtown focus and the addition of more service, particularly on buses. The full plan is linked here.

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The Railroader
8 months ago

The jobs program for political pals known as Metra and the CTA must be funded forthwith, lest the support from said patronage politicians get cut!

MEB
8 months ago

Hey Y’all, rather daily CTA rider. It seems like based on your comment section, and this article, y’all don’t ride it. My vote here in Chicago is going towards ending motor vehicle access within city limits, and I write my Alderwoman regularly ban cars and open the streets to bikes and pedestrians again. We’ll get there, and stop climate change girls! /Flex Then all you losers with your cars will be so mad, never even step foot in the city, and I’ll still be loving living in the BEST city in this country. Stay out in the burbs, we don’t… Read more »

The Railroader
8 months ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

Had to downvote due to the sad effects of the Climate Clerics on our poor misguided and delusional MEB. /Flex

Giddyap
8 months ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

Private cars and trucks kept US cities from starving to death during COVID — they aren’t going anywhere — just need to throw rocks every time City Hall tries to tell you what car you can have, and where you can drive and park it

The Railroader
8 months ago
Reply to  Giddyap

Well, MEB can /Flex and hand carry everything in from the city limits. I’m sure these foot pedestrian couriers will be completely safe. As a member of the (real world) transportation industry, I think the logistics will fall down rather quickly.

I fear that, when Starbuck’s runs short on scones, the manbuns will be in a skinny jean tizzy. How long will it take the foot patrols (the only ones that the Climate Faithful will allow) to get to the tantrum-ing manbuns to keep the peace?

Pensions Paid First
8 months ago
Reply to  Giddyap

Maybe Mark should spell out sarcasm for certain commenters. Even the emoji clearly didn’t help some people.

FYI, I don’t really think Mark should do this.

Giddyap
8 months ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

/S is a tone indicator which means “sarcasm.”

Giddyap
8 months ago
Reply to  MEB

Stupidity or Sarcasm?

Ataraxis
8 months ago
Reply to  MEB

MEB, It’s time for you to back up your words with personal action. Right now, you’re living a lie by participating in the normal people’s world on THEIR terms, but face it, you need to go all-in on YOUR version of the world. Be the change you want to see, right? Since you don’t like cars and their internal combustion engines, because they somehow change the weather in your world, you need to stop using any item which has been transported by a vehicle with an internal combustion engine into your pedestrian utopia. To bring this alive for you, you’ll… Read more »

Riverbender
8 months ago

Expanding the states sales taxes sounds great as the Democrat voters in my downstate liberal utopia love paying taxes to support Chicago

Pat S.
8 months ago
Reply to  Riverbender

Illinoisans near the borders know what to do … don’t shop in Illinois.

mqyl
8 months ago
  1. Another financial cliff in IL? What were the odds? The likelihood of financial cliffs and mismanagement of taxpayer funds seems to be highly correlated. 2. Let’s see, many Chicago-area residents seldom or don’t use CTA, Metra, or Pace services, so with this plan, they would benefit little or not at all from fare cuts but would suffer from increased sales taxes and tolls. Got it – more abuse for Chicago-area residents.
Giddyap
8 months ago

Chicago Transit Riders Have Abandoned The System — Which Is Now A Crime Infested, Drug-Ridden, Chaos Breeding, Piss And Shit Stinking Disaster — But Chicago Transit Agencies Want A Giant Tax Hike/Taxpayer Bailout 

Da Judge
8 months ago
Reply to  Giddyap

It’s an investment.

Haha, I crack myself up!!

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