CTA proposes fare increase of 25 cents per ride

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Transit Authority has proposed Wednesday a fare hike of 25 cents per ride.

A ticket to ride the L would cost $2.50 and riding the bus would cost $2.25 under the 2018 budget proposal, CTA said.

"It's not right, people are already struggling to ride the bus and the trains," said Layia Izuagbe, a CTA rider.

The CTA would also be increasing their 30-day unlimited ride pass by $5.

"We don't want to do this, but the state cuts have left us with no other options," said CTA President Dorval Carter Jr.

Dorval said service cuts were off the table even though ridership has gone down by two percent this year.

All other passes, including student passes, would not see a price increase.

This is the first time CTA has announced a fare hike since 2009. The increase is expected to generate $23 million, CTA said.

Some riders said the CTA must do more to convince them that a fare increase is the only option.

"I had a pay increase in my job, but the thing is that I'm performing well, and they're not," said Lisa Guthrie, a CTA rider.

A public hearing has been scheduled for December 12, 2017 at 6 p.m. at CTA headquarters, located at 567 W. Lake Street, in the second floor conference room.