Posted Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m.

Rising fuel costs, free rides for seniors, lower-than expected-revenue from the real estate transfer tax in a down housing market...These are all factors in the CTA's proposal today to increase fares to as much to $2.25, kill the bonus fare given to Chicago Card users and increase U-Pass cost by 20%. 

The CTA board still has to vote on this proposal, plus let riders sound off during a public hearing, but it seems the agency has mulled its options and a bounce in your bus and train cost is likely.

So will you, as the agency projects at least 1 percent of riders will do, jump ship?  Do you see this as a case of more-for-less or as a necessary move to keep transit going? 

I hope this is not like the Post Office where they raise rates often in small increments. Gimme 1 big increase and leave me alone for a while. The CTA should look into pricing fares by zone like some other transit agencies do. The farther out you are the more your fare will be.

If the CTA is going to increase the fares then let go some of the management waste. The CTA has more lawyers on their staff than several law firms. Too much middle management. That will prove the cost cutting is real. Get ride of several bus routes that are duplicating efforts.

The fare hikes is a result of legislature and the governor. This is not CTA's fault, it's our legislators' fault. Everything is going up in cost, so it's no surprise that CTA is increasing fares; in fact, we knew this would happen when the last state budget was passed with the CTA goody for senior citizens "ride free." I absolutely hate the Governor of Illinois and can't wait to get into the ballot box and vote against him.

What I want to know is why can't the CTA issue bonds, such as city and state governments do, if they need capital improvements?

I personally think the fare increase is unfair. CTA have some nerve trying to hike up the fares, when they are wasting our (taxpayer) money on unnecessary things. The new digital advertisement signs on the side of the CTA buses is a cool idea don't get me wrong, but do we really need it? Especially when the economy is in a bad situation right now.

I cant believe after finding out on ly weeks ago that city officials wew getting HUGELY ridiculous monthly bonuses while others struggle so harshly rates will be raised. Im less an less proud to be a part of Chicago.

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