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The Chicago Transit Authority has been considering a fare hike for 2004 to rectifty its budget problems, but as you might expect, folks aren't very happy. Today some Chicagoans were actually protesting, in anticipation of the decision at tomorrow's board meeting. The last meeting was an open session with the public:

Some accused CTA staff of waste and laziness, and of failing to look at alternatives to fare hikes and service cuts carefully enough. Riders suggested raising fares during rush hours only, or only on trips that originate or end downtown. Some suggested cutting the price of passes and making them more easily available.

Under Mr. Kruesi's proposal, the basic fare would increase to $1.75, while the price of a transfer would drop to a quarter. The price of weekly and monthly passes, as well as the one-, two- and five-day passes marketed primarily to tourists, would not change.

Outside the meeting, Mr. Kruesi told reporters that criticism comes with the job, and said he heard almost equal opposition to fare hikes and service cuts. Mr. Kruesi said riders cannot avoid both.

But this doesn't have to be the tradeoff. The CTA operates independently from the city, the idea being that a healthy transit system should be pay for itself. But does this really make sense? Obviously some riders are over a barrel here, because they have no other way to get to work. But increased fares will create an incentive for other riders to drive to work instead - which means more traffic. My point here is simply that there may be some benefits created by the transit system that reach beyond just the customers - and that those benefits might be worth paying for, out of general revenues.