Our 2007 budget year will end without service cuts or fare increases because Governor Blagojevich gave CTA a one-time grant of $21 million that will allow us to get through December.
But because Springfield did not pass a long-term funding package, CTA must now prepare for even more dramatic deficits and consequently even more dramatic measures to balance our budget as required by law. To that end, the Transit Board voted on Wednesday to send CTA’s 2008 budget to the RTA for approval. Based on the RTA’s funding marks for us, the budget has a $158 million deficit. A deficit this size can only really be addressed by: (1) reducing expenses (service cuts) and (2) increasing revenue (fare increase) or, (3) securing a long-term sustainable funding package from Springfield that also gives CTA the tools to address its pension problems. It is this last option that we are continuing to spend our time working toward.
So, the new date we’re looking at for service reductions and fare increases is January 20, 2008. We remain optimistic that the General Assembly will act on legislation before then.
I would also encourage you to read John Hilkevitch’s front page story in today’s Trib reminding readers (elected and other) that the region’s capital infrastructure desperately needs state investment, and CTA’s $6 billion in capital needs are exhibit A.
14 Comments:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Daley actually spoke for the CTA this week, outside of his usual soundbites the days before a Doomsday. Perhaps his next trip should be to Springfield to help broker a deal instead of to yet another far-flung location. Nah, that would make too much sense.
Carol:
Thanks for all your hard work. I can't imagine how busy you have been the past few weeks lobbying our worthless elected officials, but I do appreciate your well spoken words in news reports. You are doing your best to promote the need for transit funding, and our elected officials continue to ignore this desperate situation in the Chicagoland region.
The House should pass SB572 with an effective date of June 1st, so that a 3/5 majority is not required.
The bill already got a simple majority weeks ago, just not a 3/5 majority required in order to make the bill take effect prior to 6/1/08.
This would put pressure on the Senate to either pass the bill or do something to avoid looking like the "problem" chamber.
If the Senate does pass it (which as January gets closer is not inconceivable), it would squarely focus attention on the Governor (where it belongs) as the obstacle to a solution. Given his personality, that's unlikely to be enough to get him to refrain from vetoing it, but it would (1) ratchet up the pressure on him to find a real solution, and (2) make it slightly easier to round up the supermajority needed for an override.
Of course, this leaves open the major question of how to make up the shortfall in RTA funding for five months from January through May 2008. This would be a much easier problem to deal with if there was certainty about long-term funding, though. And even in the worst case scenario, five months of fare increases and service cuts followed by a genuinely good long-term solution is probably better than having some permanently half-assed compromise take effect in January. Most likely Blagojevich would come through with some random temporary funds again to bridge the five month gap.
The best-case scenario is that the inevitable indictment is handed down sooner rather than later, and that Acting Governor Quinn, being a grown-up, will work with the legislature to get SB572 passed quickly.
I have been really talking negatively of the CTA lately. I have something positive to say for once though. I would like to applaud Ron Huberman for really cleaning up the system. I no longer experience bus bunching or 30 minute waits for busses. Trains run more on schedule and stations are cleaner.
One man I would also like to applaud is a janitor that works at Harlem (O'Hare) and Jeffereson Park stations. His badge number is 28523. I have seen this man working in these stations for about 2 years. I have never seen him standing "idle" not doing anything. He is always cleaning something or sweeping the floor. Workers like this are what the CTA needs. Since he has worked in Harlem station the area is much cleaner and sanitary and Jefferson Park has always been cleaned nicely. He deserves some praise for his hard work.
If we're looking for silver linings: the seats in some of the the newer buses are great. The saddle-shaped seat back is much closer to the natural curvature of the lower back and is therefore much more comfortable and supportive.
With all the need to save money, I hope the CTA is not going to do a holiday train or bus this year!
With all the need to save money, I hope they will turn off the heat in buses and trains, stop repairing and cleaning seats, and cease any other activity that might contribute in any positive way to the comfort or mood of passengers.
Seriously, the holiday train is a fun thing that makes people happy. It's also one of the few things the CTA does that builds good will towards the agency.
And how much could it cost? The train does carry passengers, so the "extra" part is the decorations. I know employees used to volunteer their time to decorate and serve as, uh, elves.
And even if it did cost some money and staff time, it's worthwhile. People support things they feel good about. And we want people to take their kids on the CTA and their kids to have happy thoughts about trains and transit. Their kids will grow up to be voters (and hopefully passengers) one day.
So bah humbug to nixing the holiday train!
Carole,
It's an improvement that the bus tracker site tells people that it doesn't include the X20, probably because of the harping here on this blog.
But really, how come it doesn't include the X20?
And for a related question that's more positive, for Carole or anyone who knows or wants to speculate: the tracker map now indicates the course of a number of other routes (like my North Avenue bus), even though the buses on those routes are not yet shown.
Can we assume those routes will be the first to be added? :-) Should we be looking for these newly available routes any time soon?
Carole:
I avoid using this blog as a substitute for contacting customer service, but they are not responding to a question I've sent them (twice) about the bus tracker.
Basically, I'm wondering what is going on. On May 14, 2007, they responded to a question about the timing of the bus tracker expansion by saying the following:
"Thank you for contacting CTA about the Bus Tracker program. At this time we are releasing the routes out of North Park garage. We are targeting late summer for the release of the garages. [...]"
But "late summer" came and went, and nothing happened. I wrote again on November 8th to ask what the deal is, and they sent me some random message about using a different web address on my PDA (i.e., a cut-and-paste job that had nothing to do with my question). I wrote again on November 9th to point out what my original question was, and I've heard no response.
The CTA announced it was expanding the bus tracker months ago, with all routes to be on the system by early 2008. Cutting the bus tracker was not part of any hearing that I've heard about, so it certainly should still be in the works.
There's some color coding on the bus tracker map now, but it doesn't correspond to the routes that the CTA said would be the first to get added to the system.
Why can't anyone at the CTA just tell us what the schedule is already?
Carole, not completely related to the thread, but it looks like the new tracks at Fullerton are getting pretty close to being done. When will work switch to the southbound tracks? The platform is overcrowded now, what is the plan for single tracking all three lines? And if uber-Doomsday is implemented in January and there is no #11 bus, how is the CTA planning on dealing with the crowds.
Also, it seems more and more people are drifting back to the trains and the PM commute is getting longer and longer. When the work impacts the AM commute and people have less flexibility and no alternatives, you're going to have a lot of unhappy campers on your hands.
No offense, but isn't that why it's called Doomsday? How are they planning on dealing with the crowds? They're not. You can't cut routes because you're broke, and then provide supplemental service to give people warm fuzzies.
so where did the money come from for all the repairs and the new Pink Line?
Was that the money they are lacking now for operating costs?
Concerned Citizens Rally for CTA Funding
The Gridlock’s got to go!
What: Concerned Citizen’s Rally for CTA Funding. Concerned citizens will rally to demand that the Gridlock end in Springfield and that our lawmakers get to work so that we can get to work. We rely on CTA to take us to our jobs and our schools. The legislature must prioritize fully funding the CTA.
When: Friday, January 10 at 10 am
Where: James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph
Why: CTA crisis will not be resolved without decisive legislative action. We must gather to demand that our lawmakers address this issue with vision and accountability.
The press is confirmed. Please RSVP to Crystal Pernell at 312-850-2840 or cpernell@jonathanbedi.com
This Rally is sponsored by Jonathan Bedi for Senate.
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