Chicago-area transit riders deserve safe, reliable service. But the Regional Transportation Authority board might soon ask the wrong people to pay for it.

The Chicago Transit Authority’s latest budget proposal includes 25-cent fare hikes.

The increase comes after last year’s hike, which cost yearlong commuters an extra $141 annually for their monthly passes. Metra officials have not ruled out further fare hikes or service cuts.

Blaming Illinois state budget cuts, Metra considers raising fares in 2018, despite previous fare schedule.

House Bill 3004 would have put banks and bondholders ahead of taxpayers and those who rely on government services. But Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto strips the bill of those bailout provisions.

Bailout bills moving in the Illinois General Assembly would attempt to turn Illinois’ massive debt problems into guaranteed profits for banks and bondholders and a lower standard of living for other Illinoisans.