Board public hearings continue

Last night at Lane Tech High School the Board convened its first public hearing to receive input from our customers and other stakeholders on President Huberman’s recommended 2008 budget. Those recommendations, as you’ll recall, will dramatically reduce service on both bus and rail and increase fares across the board. I have no doubt that Chicago will be a starkly different city if these go into effect.

These hearings are designed to give you and your fellow customers a chance to tell the Board what you think of the President’s proposed budget (not surprisingly, no one was happy about it last night), and also to weigh in with the Board on what you think we could do differently. We heard some very constructive comments last night—they reinforced the shared pain that CTA workers and its customers are facing as November 4^th and January 1^st, 2008 fast approach. Once these hearings are complete, the Board will incorporate public comments into its deliberations as it determines CTA’s final 2008 budget.

I am also staying abreast of developments in Springfield, including the House and Senate’s apparent planned action this week and early next. I remain hopeful if not optimistic that our state elected officials will resolve their differences and provide regional transit with long-term, equitable funding.

In the meantime, my fellow Board members and I would very much like to hear from you at our remaining two public hearings:

6 p.m. Thursday, November 1, 2007
Percy L. Julian High School
Dr. Edward H. Oliver Auditorium
10330 S. Elizabeth Street
Chicago, IL 60643

6 p.m. Monday, November 5, 2007
CTA Headquarters Building
567 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661

Music, history and transit

While CTA’s budget situation has caused justified concern across the region, I came across this story in today’s Sun Times that for me captures the resiliency and spirit of CTA customers. And I thought carrying groceries was a lot to haul...

2008 budget process begins

This past Monday CTA President Huberman presented the Board with his 2008 CTA budget based on the Regional Transportation Authority's funding marks. Thus begins CTA's 2008 budget process. As you have probably heard, his recommendations, if adopted by the Board, will be very, very tough for our customers and for the region at large.

On November 7th at 2pm at CTA Headquarters, the Board will convene to formally consider his recommendations, make changes they feel necessary, and vote to adopt the CTA’s 2008 budget.

My fellow Board members and I feel very strongly that the Board must hear CTA customers’ perspectives on President Huberman’s recommendations before then. Do you agree with them? If not, why? What suggestions do you have? To this end, the Board will be convening a series of public hearings on President Huberman’s recommendations:

October 30, 2007, 6PM

Lane Tech High School

2501 W. Addison Street

Chicago, IL 60618

November 1, 2007, 6PM

Percy L. Julian High School

10330 S. Elizabeth Street

Chicago, IL 60643

November 5, 2007, 6PM

CTA Headquarters

567 W. Lake Street

Chicago, IL 60661

I also encourage you to submit your comments in writing to our Board office, via our email address, ctaboard@transitchicago.com, or here on the blog. The Board always makes changes to the President’s recommendations based on this dialogue, and I assure everyone that we take it very seriously.