CHICAGO - The Chicago Transit Authority avoided immediate service cuts and fare hikes Thursday after regional transportation officials approved a plan to shift suburban transit funds to help cover the city agency’s budget shortfall.

What we know:

The Regional Transportation Authority board, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace, voted unanimously to transfer about $74 million from Metra and Pace to the CTA.

Officials said the move will not affect suburban service and will buy the CTA another year before a looming budget crisis.

Disability advocates criticized the plan, saying transit agencies are balancing their budgets at the expense of programs that serve vulnerable riders.

RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden warned the region’s transit systems are "hanging on by a thread."

"No

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