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Pace Budget For 2015 Avoids Fare Hike

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Pace is the first Chicago-area transit agency to unveil its 2015 budget -- and it's good news for riders.

No fare hikes and no service cuts are included in the $223.3 million Pace 2015 budget. In fact, spokesman Patrick Wilmot said, service could be enhanced for the second consecutive year, although no decisions have been made as to when and where.

Wilmot credits an unexpected increase in sales tax revenues, but he said ridership gains have also been strong.

Pace projects an increase in ridership of 7.9 percent on bus routes and 7 percent on paratransit, which has a separate tentative $172.2 million 2015 budget. And, Wilmot said, Pace is right where it wants to be in terms of replacing old buses and vans. It plans to buy 75 buses and 190 vans in the coming year.

Public hearings are scheduled in nine Chicago-area locations Oct. 20-30. Wilmot said each also will include an open forum for paratransit users.

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