The Regional Transit Authority passed its 2010 budget today -- a move that makes layoffs next year at the Chicago Transit Authority all but a certainty.
The RTA adopted a $1.3 billion budget that covers operations at the CTA, Metra, Pace and Pace paratransit services.
While the authority is forecasting a boost in 2010 sales tax revenue of 1.5 percent, the immediate future looks bleak to the RTA’s board of directors.
“Things are not going to get a whole lot better,” said board chairman Jim Reilly. “Hopefully, things will come back a bit faster than out RTA projections.”
Though nothing is official until the day the cuts are actually executed, layoffs for the CTA and Pace are both slated for February 7.
RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman said he's happy the agency could avoid such moves in 2009.
“We’re taking the steps we need to maintain adequate levels of service,” Schlickman said. “While other transit systems around the country had already started to cut their service and increase fares this year, we were able to avoid that this year.”
One area of optimism for the RTA board is capital funding. Schlickman said the RTA has $1 billion worth of shovel-ready projects if President Barack Obama pushes through another stimulus package — something he’s hopeful for, as he’s visited with White House officials three times this year.
“It would be a huge shot in the arm of things that would bring us towards a state of good repair, and it cuts across all categories,” Schlickman said.
That would be particularly helpful for the CTA. The cash-strapped agency says its efforts to pare operating expenses are hampered by outdated trains, buses and tracks.