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Last week, the Regional Transportation Authority approved the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) $1.27 billion budget for 2010. The budget, which doesn’t include a fare increase, calls for the elimination of more than 1,000 jobs and a number of service reductions. In addition, the 2010 operating budget is about $1 million lower than the projected ’09 operating budget.

The CTA will implement service reductions on Feb. 7, 2010. The reductions include less-frequent service during off-peak hours and the elimination of nine express bus routes.

Because the agency will need fewer operating workers, CTA will lay off more than 1,000 employees. The agency began to send out lay-off notices earlier this month.

“We have been and will continue to evaluate and pursue all opportunities to reduce operating expenses,” said CTA President Richard Rodriguez in a prepared statement.

The CTA continues to work with its labor unions — which represent about 90 percent of the agency’s workforce — to find ways to reduce costs and save jobs. As a result of union contracts, CTA’s budget for salaries has increased $24 million, the agency said.