Brian Cassella / baiduhaiA CTA Pink Line train travels through the West Loop on March 8, 2021.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA sign posted on a Brown Line train reminds riders to wear a mask on June 9, 2020 in Chicago.
Stacey Wescott / baiduhaiLess than a dozen commuters boarded the 7:53 train at the Barrington Metra Station on March 16, 2020. The Union Pacific Northwest line runs from Harvard to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.
Todd Panagopoulos / baiduhaiHomewood's Metra Electric stop has lower ridership March 16, 2020.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA sign is posted at the Metra Electric District line 83rd Street station on May 11, 2021, in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA CTA rider wears a mask while riding an Orange Line train on June 9, 2020.
Terrence Antonio James / baiduhaiA Metra Electric passenger on June 10, 2020.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiCustomers ride a nearly-empty Metra Electric train, April 15, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCTA passengers waiting for trains wear face masks at the Roosevelt station, May 14, 2020.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiA small number of commuters on the inbound CTA Blue Line platform on California Avenue in Chicago on March 16, 2020.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiLe-Prince Green rides the Metra Electric District line on May 11, 2021.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiRiders on a CTA Pink Line train on the West Side on March 8, 2021.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA COVID-19 notification is posted at the Washington/Wabash station, May 14, 2020.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiCustomers ride the Metra Electric line, April 15, 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA couple holds hands while waiting for a train at the CTA subway station at State and Jackson in the Loop on June 9, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiA commuter sits in a CTA train at the Clark/Lake Station in Chicago's Loop on April 14, 2021.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiA Pink Line train in the Loop, May 10, 2021, during the morning rush.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA rider enters a Red Line train after it was cleaned at the 95th Street station on Sept. 10, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA woman descends a stairwell at the CTA Blue Line station at Western and Milwaukee avenues on March 25, 2021, in Chicago.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiPeople wait on a CTA platform in the Loop on May 10, 2021, during the morning rush.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiGrace Sweeney in the CTA station lobby at the Thompson Center as she commutes to her new job in Chicago on May 10, 2021.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiA public service announcement to wash hands is displayed on a monitor at the CTA Blue Line station on California Avenue in Chicago on March 16, 2020.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA train operator looks out the window of a Green Line train at the Washington-Wabash elevated CTA station on June 9, 2020.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiOnly a few riders are seen on the inbound CTA Blue Line during the morning rush in Chicago on March 16, 2020.
E. Jason Wambsgans / baiduhaiCommuters ride a CTA Red Line train on March 16, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCommuters, some with face masks, enter and exit trains at the CTA Roosevelt Stop in Chicago on March 16, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiMetra commuters walk on a train platform at the Ogilvie Transportation Center April 14, 2021, in Chicago.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA man walks next to a stopped train at the CTA Red Line Jackson station, Dec. 9, 2020, in Chicago.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiRush period CTA riders wait for trains in Chicago's Loop on May 10, 2021.
E. Jason Wambsgans / baiduhaiA commuter stands inside the CTA Red Line Harrison subway station during the morning rush period, March 16, 2020.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiPeople walk from a CTA train at the Harold Washington station in Chicago's Loop on May 10, 2021.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiCustomers ride the Metra Electric line, April 15, 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiDavid Cedras, 25, wears a mask while riding a Brown Line train in the Loop on June 9, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCTA passengers wait for a train at the Adams/Wabash "L" station, May 14, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiMetra commuters exit trains at the Ogilvie Transportation Center April 14, 2021, in downtown Chicago.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCTA commuters wait for train doors to open at Clark and Lake Street in downtown Chicago on April 14, 2021.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiA CTA train arrives at the Clark/Lake Station in downtown Chicago on April 14, 2021.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA passenger boards a 151 Sheridan bus on West Adams Street, May 14, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA passenger waits for a train at the State and Lake station on March 21, 2020, in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA man waits for a train at the Washington-Wabash elevated CTA station on June 9, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiAn empty CTA train car sits at the Lake Street station during the morning rush on Nov. 16, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA passenger wearing a face mask exits a train at the Roosevelt station, May 14, 2020, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA glove sits on the ground of the CTA Belmont Blue Line Station on March 23, 2020, in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiCommuters wearing masks ride an Orange Line train in the Loop on June 9, 2020.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiA CTA train at the Harold Washington station in Chicago's Loop on May 10, 2021.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCTA employee Renee Jones hands out free travel safety kits containing a face mask and hand sanitizer to commuters at the CTA Red Line at Clark and Lake on June 23, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiFewer than normal commuters wait for their trains during the tail end of the morning rush hour at the CTA station at Roosevelt and State on March 16, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA passenger talks on a phone while wearing a face mask at the Washington/Wabash station, May 14, 2020.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA man with a mask and gloves sits inside the CTA Belmont Blue Line Station on March 23, 2020, in Chicago.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiA woman rides a Pink Line train in the Loop during rush hour on May 10, 2021.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiPassengers wait at the CTA Green and Pink Line Ashland station on March 8, 2021.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA person rides the Metra Electric District line, May 11, 2021, in Chicago. With some coronavirus pandemic restrictions lifted, some people may be returning to public transit.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiA CTA elevated train in Chicago on June 25, 2020.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiPeople wait outside the CTA Belmont Blue Line Station on March 23, 2020, in Chicago.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA passenger waits for a train at the Washington/Wabash station, May 14, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCTA riders stand apart from one another while waiting on the Belmont station platform on March 24, 2020, in Chicago.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCoach cleaner Gerardo Garibay disinfects seating inside a Metro train car at Metra's Western Avenue coach yard in Chicago on Sept. 15, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA public service notification about wearing face coverings is displayed at the Roosevelt station, May 14, 2020.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCTA riders wait to enter a train at Clark and Lake Street in downtown Chicago on April 14, 2021.
Stacey Wescott / baiduhaiA commuter walks the platform of the Barrington Metra station of the Union Pacific Northwest line, March 19, 2020, where three passengers boarded.
E. Jason Wambsgans / baiduhaiA traveler rides the CTA Red Line during the morning rush period March 16, 2020.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA CTA rider wears a mask and latex gloves while waiting for a train at the Washington and Wabash station on March 19, 2020, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiRenee Moy and her daughter Katherine Tanski, both of Indiana, ride the Metra Electric District line on May 11, 2021, in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiService provider Eddie Lozada power washes the glass surrounding a CTA escalator in the Loop on March 25, 2020, in Chicago. After the power wash was completed a disinfectant is applied to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Antonio Perez / baiduhaiCTA employee Jermell Powell hands out free travel safety kits containing a face mask and hand sanitizer to commuters at the Polk Street CTA Pink Line station on June 23, 2020.
E. Jason Wambsgans / baiduhaiPassengers wait on the Roosevelt "L" platform at rush hour on Dec. 4, 2020.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiKristie Cambric of Metra hands out complimentary hand sanitizer to customers at Millennium Station, April 15, 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Brian Cassella / baiduhai
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A CTA Pink Line train travels through the West Loop on March 8, 2021.
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By Robert Channick | [email protected] | baiduhai
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
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With a million fewer daily riders on Chicago’s buses and the ‘L’ during the pandemic, the CTA is seeking new federal funds to cover a projected $375 million budget shortfall next year.
While there are no plans to reduce service or increase fares as it enters 2021, the CTA has baked the deficit — and anticipated federal relief — into its proposed $1.64 billion operating budget, announced Thursday.
“Without additional federal funding, there’s no way the CTA can continue to provide the same level of service we are now,” CTA spokesman Brian Steele said. “Service cuts and fare increases will always be options of last resort.”
The CTA averaged about 1.5 million daily riders before dropping 80% as the pandemic and statewide stay-at-home orders hit in March. Ridership has since recovered to about 500,000 daily passengers, but the CTA projects a $554 million revenue loss this year, due mostly to decreased ridership, Steele said.
In May, the CTA received $817.5 million from the federal coronavirus relief package. That money will run out in early 2021, Steele said.
Despite the operating deficit, the CTA plans to continue its five-year, $3.4 billion capital program in 2021, including the Red Line extension and the Cottage Grove Green Line station upgrade.