Your attention, please: October 2007 Archives

You now have until the end of the year to get one of the CTA's "smart" cards free of charge before proposed doomsday fare hikes take effect.

The CTA is waiving the $5 fee to obtain a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus until Dec. 31, to give riders more time to switch to electronic fare cards.

The CTA is holding three public meetings on its proposed 2008 budget, which involves cutting 43 bus routes in addition to the 39 that would be cut on Nov. 4.

Meeting dates are: Oct. 30 at Lane Tech College Prep, 2501 W. Addison; Nov. 1 at Percy Julian High School, 10330 S. Elizabeth; and Nov. 5 at the CTA’s headquarters, 567 W. Lake. All meetings start at 6 p.m.

The CTA board will likely vote on the proposed $1 billion budget at its Nov. 7 meeting.

The agency is facing a $158 million deficit for 2008, fueled by growing pension and healthcare obligations, lower state subsidies and the lack of capital money that has been used in the past to pay for operations, the CTA says.