The NEIU Independent

Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Leigh Hanlon

It's freezing weather on a January evening and I am waiting for bus route# 82- Kimball-Homan at a bus stop which does not have any sort of shelter, let alone benches. I am supposed to be at the Fine Arts Building at 7:05 p.m. and it's 7:15 p.m. now. The bus finally arrives at 7:20 p.m., which was supposed to come around 6:45 p.m. to 6:55 p.m., and I missed an important quiz as I was late for the class. Again, at 9:45 p.m., I am at the Catalpa bus stop, another bus stop without any shelter. It's snowing now and I am begging God for the bus to come. It finally arrived at 11:15 p.m.

For crying out loud, it's going to be officially worse beginning Feb. 7. The route # 82's service frequency will be changed. According to the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) latest press release, on Feb. 7, rail service was reduced by 9 percent and CTA bus service was reduced by 18 percent, including route # 82 on which many of the NEIU students depend. On weekdays, during the morning rush period, service will operate approximately every 8-18 minutes, during the midday, service will operate approximately every 8-13 minutes, during the afternoon rush period, service will operate approximately every 4-9 minutes, during the evening, service will operate approximately every 13-20 minutes, as detailed on the CTA official website. The already late bus route will almost be near -eliminated. "Please allow extra travel time" is the notion on the website.

According to the CTA president Richard L. Rodriguez, service reductions are now necessary because "the revenues that help subsidize CTA service are tied to sales and real estate transfer taxes, which are both down significantly due to the recession. By managing responsibly and making very difficult but necessary decisions, the CTA will have a balanced budget for 2010 as required by law." What will passengers have Mr. President? Does he really seem to care? There will be shorter hours on 41 routes and less frequent service on 119 routes, and customers will experience more crowded conditions and longer wait times between buses and trains, as maintained in the press release. The CTA's $1.27 billion 2010 budget was approved by the Chicago Transit Board in November 2009 without increasing proposed fare increase, because of the agreement made with Governor Quinn, but elimination of more than 1,100 CTA jobs and service reductions resulted.

"Because nearly 90 percent of the workforce is unionized," says Rodriguez, "the CTA has tried to work with leaders of the union and trade uniorepresentatives to implement similar cost-saving measures with our union workforce."

Continued...

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