Effective January 1, 2009, the Chicago Transit Authority will raise fares for most riders on buses and trains to aid budget shortfalls for the year.
The changes are said to be less than the 20 percent increase originally proposed. Reduced fares will remain the same as 2008 levels. So fares will not increase for people with disabilities or elementary and high school students.
A chart of the 2009 fares can be found here.
CTA University Pass (U-Pass) users, currently students from over 40 Chicago area colleges and universities, will see their fares raise by 15 percent for the Fall 2009 term.
CTA officials cited the "economic downturn" and "higher prices for energy, fuel and materials", a lack of designated state capital resources to replace aging equipment and infrastructure and free ride programs as factors impacting the 2009 budget.
In related news, the CTA announced a new joint 7-Day pass that can be used to travel on the CTA and Pace suburban bus service.
CTA’s 30-Day passes and stored value cards, Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus and magnetic strip transit cards may still be used on Pace buses. However, Pace will no longer accept CTA’s 1-Day, 3-Day, 7-Day and U-Pass fare media on its system effective January 1, 2009.
The joint CTA/Pace 7-Day pass will cost $5 more than the price of a regular CTA 7-Day pass and is available beginning January 1.
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