CTA: No Fare Hikes, Service Reductions in 2015

The Chicago Transit Authority's 2015 budget, released early Monday morning, includes good news for riders: no fare hikes or service reductions in the coming year.

In fact, the $1.44 billion proposal calls for continuing work on improvement projects and expanded service on several rail lines. The news is a dramatic shift from 2011, when the CTA faced a budget deficit exceeding $300 million.

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Improvement projects currently underway include the construction of a new 95th Street terminal on the Red Line, a new Cermak/McCormick Place station on the Green Line, and reconstruction of the Wilson Station on the Red Line. 

Transit officials said ridership is expected to increase by more than two million rides in 2015, and additional morning and evening rush hour trips on the Red, Blue, Brown and Orange lines are planned to help ease congestion.

A public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, November 17, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the second floor conference room of CTA headquarters, at 567 W. Lake Street.