Mayor Richard Daley mumbled. John and Jane Citizen complained about losing public transit links to work or the grocery store. That must not be allowed to happen. It's the second largest public transit system in the country, and the CTA is an indispensable part of the city's economy and vitality. Mayor Daley needs to apply the same style of shock therapy to the CTA that revitalized management of the city's parks and public schools.
Revenue is obviously a key problem.
A hike in the gas tax by the state is about as unlikely as the city coughing up more operating subsidies. So it's back to trimming expenses, which so far has basically meant cutting service and personnel, the latter accounting for 72 percent of the CTA's operational costs. Instead, the CTA should look for more efficient ways of providing service. In fact, the CTA's current labor contract with drivers and motormen, which runs until the year 2000, specifically prohibits any attempt at privatization. That clause in the contract must go.