Would you stand up to Springfield to help the CTA? That was the question posed in Tuesday’s “Going Public” column, which offered tips for contacting lawmakers on behalf of the beleaguered transit agency. The CTA is mulling service cuts and fare hikes if it doesn’t get a $97.5 bailout from the state legislature.
A number of riders responded that lawmakers should help the CTA, but a few argued that the local transit agency should trim more of its own fat or try some new tricks.
Pay up, lawmakers
I think that more money and efforts should be placed into the CTA. If this city is going to continue to have a lack of parking for residents, commuters, visitors, etc. yet continue to build and take up more space, then mass transit is the only option.
That being said, the average working person making $40K or less cannot afford to have higher CTA prices and less service especially when that service is currently inefficient.
Something has to change. We need support and money to give CTA more routes and better customer service.
William Hardison, 32, Lincoln Park
Let’s prioritize
It’s very interesting that legislators can vote themselves a 9.6 percent raise that would benefit very few, but cannot vote for something to benefit the masses.
A fare increase would have a dire effect on those who can afford it least, and they can’t vote themselves a raise to cover an increase, so it would have to come from somewhere else in their budgets.
I say we use the money we would raise for the Olympics and improve the transportation to really make this a world-class city.
Sara Spitz, 69, Lincoln Square
No cuts, no buts
Public transit in these days of global warming is essential. We must keep it an appealing alternative. Cutting routes, not to mention raising fares, would have a hugely adverse effect on my life and the likelihood of others opting for the greener way of using public transit.
Jessica Bigham, 21, Edgewater
Get in the zone
I don’t know why the CTA doesn’t have zoned fares. It doesn’t make sense to pay the same amount to travel three blocks as it does to travel 10 miles. Are we Chicagoans too stupid to adapt? I don’t think so. If the funding in Springfield isn’t forthcoming, it’s time to change the system rather than simply eliminating services.
Jane Kaihatsu, 50, Andersonville
Stop CTA waste
CTA is an organization that is proposing drastic measures to cut costs when there are answers right in front of their own eyes. For example, the No.145-Wilson/Michigan express route consistently runs a double bus that does not have more than five riders during non-peak and weekend hours.
The organization needs to look at readily available ways to cut operational costs without cutting service or raising prices and thus not alienating those individuals who are most in need of their services.
Valerie Mulvey, 24, Ravenswood
No funds, no Olympics
I plan on contacting Springfield lawmakers to request more mass transit funding today after your article on Page 4 in the RedEye.
I will use the savechicagolandtransit.com Web site as suggested. I find it appalling that anyone would insinuate that it would be a waste of money to pump money into the CTA. With the state of our environment, public transportation is crucial. If you cut the CTA, then the city had better withdraw its Olympics bid.
Kristen Farrell, 37, Lakeview
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goingpublic&tribune.com
