TriMet, A model for other cities?

From Time Out Chicago, Transit ideas from other cities

Portland Don’t bank on the fare box
The CTA is an exceptionally fare-dependant system. Like every transit operator under the Regional Transportation Authority’s umbrella (including Metra and Pace), it’s mandated by state law to collect a whopping 50 percent of its revenue through fares. If the CTA doesn’t meet that quota, its only options are hiking fares and slashing service. Such dire straits are foreign to Portland’s TriMet. Just 20 percent of its revenue has to come from fares, while 55 percent is derived from a payroll tax paid by business owners and self-employers within the TriMet area that benefit from rapid transit.