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Chicago Transit Authority To Hike Train Fares By 30% To $3.00 In 2010

Tyler Durden's picture




As part of its proposed 2010 budget, the CTA is preparing more pain for Chicago residents, which include transit fare hikes across the board. Transit authorities throughout the country (most notably New York's MTA) are doing all their best to pretend they do not need to file for bankruptcy, even as all signs point to the contrary. As ChicagoBreakingNews reports, the list of increases would be comprehensive and impact virtually every transportation category.

  • Basic train fares to $3 from $2.25.
  • Basic bus fares to $2.50 from $2.25.
  • Express bus fares to $3 from as little as $2.25 now.
  • Full fare 30-day passes to $110 from $86.
  • Seven-day passes to $30 from $23.
  • In addition, express bus service would no longer be available on nine routes: X3, X4, X9, X20, X49, X54, X55, X80 and 53 AL.

    Hours of operation also would be reduced on 41 other bus routes, generally in the early morning and late night. Each would lose between 25 minutes and about three hours of service a day, with a few routes even more.

Curiously, the information first appeared in a legal ad the CTA places in the Chicago Tribune earlier today:

h/t Dvolatility




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Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:39 | Link to Comment Sancho Ponzi
Sancho Ponzi's picture

Stick it yet again to the working stiff. 

Anyone know whassup with WFC? Is this blatant insider trading, or a bull trap?

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:45 | Link to Comment mikeyv1970
mikeyv1970's picture

Sancho,

Could be Shorters covering in case of "Beat Expectations" pop.

-Michael

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:04 | Link to Comment Sancho Ponzi
Sancho Ponzi's picture

They don't release Q3 earnings until the 21st, but yea, you're probably right. Hell, nothing makes sense

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:25 | Link to Comment pinkboxtrader
pinkboxtrader's picture

not making sense is the new making sense. at this point would you honestly believe something that made sense or would it be shadowed by the search for ulterior motives?

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:13 | Link to Comment Sancho Ponzi
Sancho Ponzi's picture

You got that right. 

Check out LVS - Who the heck is propping up that dog, Bernanke?

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:43 | Link to Comment E Thomas St.
E Thomas St.'s picture

Unfortunately, shortfalls in public transportation budgets create two bad outcomes; Reduced service at higher cost to people that presumably already have low incomes that make public transportation a cheaper option, and higher debt in the long term that prevents a reduction in fairs in the future.

The good news is that at least they aren't doing the impossible of trying to build out a completely new system during this period of time.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:18 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

The new normal is screw everyone else as long as the bank bailouts and other corporate welfare programs are up and running or in the pipeline.

Clearly the states and municipalities didn't pay their yearly kickbacks....er bribes....er….hell, you know what I mean.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 17:31 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

The new normal = B.O.H.I.C.A.

(Bend over, here it comes again)

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:50 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

Street parking in SF is now $3 an hour, except for times like this weekend when it is $4 an hour.  This isn't parking garage valet parking, this is metered street parking.

I suppose this is all deflationary, though, as the dollar deflationists claim.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:52 | Link to Comment bruce wayne
bruce wayne's picture

No, its just an unwillingness to balance budgets like the private sector has to do.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:40 | Link to Comment Circumspice
Circumspice's picture

$3.50/hr if you're smack in the middle of downtown (i.e. most financial institutions), although most spots are reserved for commercial vehicles anyway. Even motorcycle parking is $0.70/hr, which can run you $2000 a year easy. And a meter violation is at least $53 (+$10 downtown). Taking BART rapid transit from across the Bay is going to be at least $3 one way (+$1 if you park). By car, the fare to cross the Bay Bridge into SF is $5. And if you plan to board certain Muni bus lines, you better be packing heat.

But hey, it's going to a good cause:

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/sfpay/index.shtml

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:54 | Link to Comment KevinB
KevinB's picture

Can't they just go back to playing music? I miss "25 or 6 to 4".

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 12:54 | Link to Comment small watcher
small watcher's picture

LOL!

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:00 | Link to Comment Crook County
Crook County's picture

We already sold the Skyway and the parking meters to private interests to create a rainy day fund.  We were going to sell Midway airport too, but after the financial crisis we seem to have run out of buyers.  With the Olympics bid up in smoke, city worker furlough days already in place, and a Police Department without a new contract, "Hizzoner" da Mayor is takin' ack-shun.

Pay more, wait longer. These are tuff times.

Don't worry, you'll still get there.  :P

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:03 | Link to Comment bugs_
bugs_'s picture

Government "prices" never deflate until the bitter end.

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:03 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

But I thought we were in "deflation"... I guess Chicago Transit Authority is unaware of the existence of Robert Prechter and the skyrocketing purchasing power of the greenback.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:05 | Link to Comment ReallySparky
ReallySparky's picture

Here in Kansas City, the Metro Bus is considering allowing non-stop audio commercials to play on every public bus in the city to increase advertising revenue.  Wonder who will be advertising? "Check Into Cash" and the numerous "Casinos".  Or will they play continuous "O" speeches as a public service?

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:29 | Link to Comment E Thomas St.
E Thomas St.'s picture

That's the thing that I really liked about MTA; They actually have visual adverts that were for something I might buy (Vodka, although not the Vodka being advertised), where as in Seattle we have tons of ads for public services, check cashing, women's health, etc etc.

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:57 | Link to Comment koaj
koaj's picture

half the ads in the subway cars are in spanish anyway

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:12 | Link to Comment E Thomas St.
E Thomas St.'s picture

No problemo amigo. I'm working on learning Spanish by reading adverts in Spanish and watching Sabado Gigante at work.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

This is just a strategically wise move looking ahead to the 2020 Olympics.

 

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:14 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:19 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:20 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:25 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:57 | Link to Comment Abraham Snake
Abraham Snake's picture

Public transportation use will eventually become dominant. Pretty soon we will see $10 gallon gasoline and this will look cheap.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 18:38 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:04 | Link to Comment TraderMark
TraderMark's picture

There is a huge gulf that grows by the week between the public and private worker in America

 

I don't know when the private worker says enough is enough, we cannot pay for your pensions and your retirement at ages 56 anymore

 

But it continues.  And where there are holes the federal government sends "stimulus money" to fill the hole.

 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:33 | Link to Comment Rama V
Rama V's picture

This is all planned by the WHO?  Increased cost will decrease ridership and in turn decrease the spread of H1N1.  Remember never, ever touch the bus. 

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:57 | Link to Comment JR
JR's picture

Whatsa matta with yooz guys?  Dis is recovery!

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:24 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Tax revenue recovery; user fees are in a bull market!

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 22:34 | Link to Comment JR
JR's picture

:-)

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:03 | Link to Comment Bam_Man
Bam_Man's picture

Gotta pay for those fat pension and health care benefits somehow.

My advice to J6P- Jump the turnstile.

My advice to Joe the 320lb diabetic- duck under the turnstile.

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:52 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 21:08 | Link to Comment Jerome Lester H...
Jerome Lester Horwitz's picture

What is funny is that the people who will complain the most about this will dutifully vote for Democrats in Chicago and Cook county in every election! Chicago is populated by a bunch of mindless, dimwitted masochists...with the exception of Anonymous, Crook County or anyone else who lives in Chicago who is mindful enough to read this blog!

Tue, 10/13/2009 - 01:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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