IN CHICAGO, CTA, METRA, PACE RIDERS ASK - Will Higher Fuel Prices Lead to Higher Fares?
FOR NOW, CHICAGO TRANSIT AGENCIES SAY NO - BUT MASS TRANSIT IN OTHER AREAS CONSIDERING FARE INCREASES!
Here in Chicago, the price of a gallon of regular gas approaches $4.60/gallon in some neighborhoods. In an effort to save money, many city residents are cutting back on their car trips in favor of grabbing a CTA bus or L.
But will the record cost of the diesel fuel needed to power buses on the CTA, or METRA Suburban Commuter Trains, force a fair increase soon?
Officials of all local transit agencies say "no," although skyrocketing fuel prices will cost the agencies to exceed this year's fuel budget by over $37 Million by the end of 2008.
However, both the Chicago Transit Authority and METRA do plan scale backs on new services. In Chicago, the CTA will be modifying bus routes, and bringing new, more fuel efficient hybrid buses online by the end of the summer. They will be reducing their use of many of the older, less-fuel-efficient buses as the new ones are brought into service.
METRA's plans to offer weekend service on their Southwest Service to far south suburban Manhattan, and their North Central Service to far north suburban Antioch have been placed on hold for now. Other service adjustments, designed to minimize inconvenience to METRA riders, may be considered later.
Pace, which operates buses in Chicago suburbs, has no plans currently to reduce or modify service.
Outside of the Chicago Metro Area, however, 48% of U.S. Transit Agencies are considering fare increases to offset rising fuel prices, according to a survey just completed by the American Public Transportation Association. Local transit officials have reported surges in ridership as gas prices have risen, but are concerned with their ability to maintain current service levels without increasing fares.
See Richard Wronski's article in Friday's Chicago Tribune for more details.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
