CTA to cut 100 office jobs, offer free rides to military

'TIGHT BUDGET' | Fare hikes next year not ruled out, boss says

The CTA will cut as many as 100 administrative jobs in the next six months to save money, Ron Huberman, the agency's president, said Wednesday.

"In this tight budget time, with rising fuel costs, there's no way we can avoid it," Huberman said in an interview.

He said the cuts would involve "probably less than 100" nonunion jobs and would not involve front-line operations. So bus drivers, L operators, station agents and car cleaners would not be affected.

Huberman said the cuts will save "millions and millions of dollars." The transit agency, he said, is aiming to be as "administratively lean" as possible.

The CTA employs about 10,000 people. It cut 200 administrative jobs last year.

Huberman has said he won't rule out fare hikes next year, citing rising fuel costs and the high cost of free rides now mandated for seniors. But Wednesday, he said he's trying to find ways to cut costs first.

On another front, the CTA will offer free rides starting today to active-duty U.S. military personnel in full uniform on all buses and trains. The CTA is developing a military-service pass, which will be an identification card similar to those used to allow senior citizens to ride free.

It plans to introduce the card this summer and expand the program to allow disabled veterans to also ride free. The CTA is encouraging riders with questions about the new program to call, toll-free, (888) YOUR CTA (968-7282).