The CTA’s staff will recommend a standby plan for deep service cuts and possible fare increases next month, and the CTA board will adopt a final plan in April in case the General Assembly fails to provide more funding, officials said Monday.
“We wanted to give you a heads-up because the craziness will begin very shortly,” CTA Chairman Carole Brown told the City Council’s Transportation Committee.
The CTA board must approve a backup plan well in advance of July 1, the date the cuts would go into effect barring legislative action, because of requirements mandating 60 to 90 days’ advance notice, Brown said.
CTA officials planned a 20 percent cut in service for January but delayed action at the urging of elected officials who said they would work for additional funding from the General Assembly.
But the risk is that the transit authority’s financial situation will be even worse if Springfield does not act.
Because only the last six months of 2005 would remain in which to reduce spending, “we are looking at 40 percent service cuts in July if there is no action,” Brown said.
