By Steve Rhodes
“Under Metra’s plan for annual fare hikes over the next 10 years, a portion of the additional revenue will be used to pay for a $2.4 billion modernization program that Metra says is critical for maintaining safe and reliable service. The goal of the program is to rebuild and replace the fleet of locomotives and passenger cars,” the Tribune reports.
“The rest of the initial fare increase will be used primarily to cover a $27.3 million deficit in Metra’s 2015 budget, officials said.
“If approved by Metra’s board Nov. 14, the first fare boost of nearly 11 percent would go into effect Feb. 1.”
Gee, that sounds like a lot. But Metra must have done its homework and fairly concluded such a dramatic plan is also the most sensible one.
Chairman Martin Oberman said a ‘top-to-bottom review’ of Metra’s fare system will be done. The last time a detailed analysis of passenger counts occurred was 2006, he said.
“We should look at it from scratch and make sure it makes sense,” Oberman said.
Yes, you should – before you come up with the plan!
Ten years of annual fare hikes!
During which Metra will study . . . the fare structure!
From top-to-bottom!
Including the 10 years of fare hikes?
Marty Oberman, you are Today’s Worst Person In Chicago.
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And that’s not even the point of this particular Tribune article; the continued use of what our very own Natasha Julius calls “scrapbooking equipment” to collect – or not – fares is. Metra just can’t figure out another way make sure every rider is paying for their trip.
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Now would be a good time revisit Natasha’s “A Modest Transit Proposal: Kill Metra.”
Civic Federation: Yup, Rauner Is Lying
Will he retract his attacks and pull his ads?
Previously: Rauner keeps lying.
Thought Bubble
If you could run any kind of political campaign you wanted with unlimited dollars, what kind of campaign would you run?
Bruce Rauner is running his. He has unlimited dollars to spend. No constraints. And he’s behind Pat Quinn.
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To put it another way: Pat Quinn is, in Bruce Rauner’s own words, the worst governor in America. Yet, with unlimited dollars to spend to unseat him, Rauner is losing. Does that make Bruce Rauner the worst challenger in America?
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The Blue & Orange Kool Aid Report
Mojitos Over Miami.
The NSA’s U.S. Corporate Partners
“‘Exceptionally Controlled Information’ that can only be disclosed to ‘a very few select’ people in government.”
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BeachBook
* White House Pool Reporters Test Own News Distribution System.
“The move comes amid unhappiness with the level of control exercised by Obama administration press staffers.”
* Obama’s Cynical, Stilted Response To Ebola.
Outdone by Cuba.
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TweetWood
Ah, the old “someone else will speculate about this” speculation trick https://t.co/xfsk4Nbfmz
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) October 15, 2014
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@JamesRisen: “Anyone who thinks #Snowden cud’ve done what he’s done & stayed in United States is fooling themselves.” http://t.co/izuZg29iPt
— unR̶A̶D̶A̶C̶K̶ted (@JesselynRadack) October 15, 2014
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It’s The Great Pumpkin Spice Latte, Charlie Brown. #rejectedpeanutsspecials
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) October 16, 2014
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Three-hole punches.
Posted on October 16, 2014