Chicago is bracing itself for November 4th, the day when significant cuts will take effect for the Chicago Transit Authority. Thirty nine bus routes will be cut, fares will be raised to as much as $3, and roughly 600 workers will be laid off. This will be an opportunity to examine just what service public transportation provides.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley certainly appreciates the importance of mass transit. "To me, it’s pretty clear," Daley said earlier this week. "Either (the General Assembly and the Governor) support public transit or they don’t. This is do or die time." He is calling for long-term solutions to the budget shortfalls that have plagued the CTA.

The Chicago Police Department is working with schools to mitigate potential safety problems that are likely to arise. The police presence will be increased in the 50 schools that will be most effected by the CTA cuts. Longer waits at bus stops and students crossing into gang territories to find new ways home are the source of safety concerns.

The CTA cuts can have significant effects on the accessibility of a college education as well according to a recent survey conducted by the City Colleges of Chicago. The study found out that more than 41,000 students use the CTA to get to school, and many of them don’t have access to another mode of transportation. 14,000 students said they’d have to drop out of City Colleges if the CTA cuts go through and another 11,000 would reduce their coursework or postpone it. Similar problems will likely exist with job opportunities as well. This highlights how significant the social and economic impacts of such cuts may be, particularly on people who do not own cars.

Chicago air quality is likely to decline if more people rely on personal vehicles for transportation. Chicago already ranks #11 for particle pollution and #23 for smog when compared to other major US cities. The CTA has a significant impact on air pollution, traffic congestion, and gasoline consumption. A study conducted by the American Public Transportation Association in January estimates that public transportation reduces American consumption of gasoline by 1.4 billion gallons annually.

With a population of 3 million within the city limits, the CTA rail system provided 159.3 million rides in 2006, which was the highest it has been since 1969. Meanwhile, 298.4 million rides were provided through the CTA bus service in 2006. The CTA anticipates loosing 250,000 rides daily due to service cuts and price increases. It is event certainly highlights the benefits of effective public transportation systems.