If the CTA's service cuts take effect on Sunday, Buena Park residents who depend on the 135 bus to get to work in the Loop will face long walks or convoluted commutes involving three or more transfers.

They are among the thousands of CTA riders who will feel the most direct impact of the agency's cutbacks, and they're not happy about it.

"It'll be a log jam no matter how you look at it,"  said Tom Allison as he rode the 135 to work Monday. "This is insane - people's jobs depend upon reliable transportation."

Route 135 riders tend to be office workers who depend upon the efficiency of this route from Uptown, Buena Park and Lakeview to the Loop. The route begins at Wilson on the North side, goes down Clarendon, then Marine Drive to Belmont where it jumps onto the Drive.

The bus gets off the Drive at Wacker and follows it around to LaSalle where it heads South until Wacker & Adams.

Waiting for the bus on Monday night at LaSalle and Wacker, Jennifer Kabana, a Lakeview resident and technology project manager, says, "it's sad that our transit is in such disrepair, and that they have to eliminate my best way to and from the office."

Others were more outraged.

"It's ridiculous to cut a bus route that's packed every day as it is," said Buena Park resident Sean Curry.

When news of the CTA's troubles spread, some dutifully placed phone calls or sent e-mail to legislators.

"I called and e-mailed my representatives," stated Annmarie Doran, who works in marketing for M Theory at the Merchandise Mart.

She said she did so even though she knew it to be an exercise in futility.

Sandra McIntyre, a manager at Supercuts in the Thompson Center, echoed her opinion.

"I really doubt that they're listening to what we have to say," she said.

Several 135 riders blame the state government for failing to approve a CTA funding package.

"It looks like behind the scenes nobody is talking and they're just going to let it collapse," said Allison.

Mayor Richard M. Daley was also the target of rider angst, particularly given the hype directed towards the city's recent announcement of an Olympic bid.

"If the mayor wants the Olympics, he won't get it with a third world transit system," said Curry.

Some CTA customers are inclined to give the transit agency a pass, despite its sometimes spotty service.

"I'd like to believe the CTA is giving us the straight story; that they're doing the best they can do with the funds they have," said Kabana.

Others are suspicious.

"If they're increasing fares and making service cuts, that doesn't make any sense. Where is the money from the fare increase going to go," asked Nick Mitchell, 30, waiting at the bus stop at Buena and Clarendon.