RTA to Host Forum on Seniors' Free Rides
A law passed in February that restricts free rides to low income Illinois seniors goes into effect this summer.
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Changes that will make most persons above 65-years-old exempt from the the Rapid Transit Authority's Seniors Ride Free program go into effect Sept. 1. The program, which includes CTA, Metra and Pace services, will be changed to only allow for low-income senior citizens to participate, according to a law signed by Governor Pat Quinn in February.
To raise awareness on the adjustments, the RTA is hosting a series of public hearings between June 6 and June 16. North Chicago Suburb riders and residents can attend the informational session scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on June 16 at the Levy Senior Center in Evanston. Meanwhile a meeting at 10:30 a.m. that same day has been organized for Lake County residents at the Waukegan Public Library.
Roughly 25,000 of the more than 440,000 seniors who currently participate in the program will continue to qualify, Joseph Costello, RTA's executive director, told The Chicago Tribune. The remaining participants will pay a reduced fee.
Stay tuned for updates from Patch on the story and check out the full list of RTA's public hearings here.
victoria smith
2:35 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
OMG, this is when they really do need it! During the brutal Summer and the crazy cold of our Winters, not to mention how hard it is to walk on non-exisiting sidewalks because they haven't been shoveled!
Sometimes I have a very hard time swallowing the way our city and gov treat our senoirs, doesn't matter if they are low income or not! Just a plain disgrace!!!
Instead of cutting this program I think that they should look at peoples saleries that run these so called programs! Just saying....
Tony Kovacs
12:20 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Free rides for seniors was NEVER a good idea-Blago did it to buy votes as he admits on the trial tapes. But taking it away causes complaints, showing how hard it is to change an entitlement. Giving free rides to only the most needy seniors and half fares to other seniors is probably a good compromise. The key point: not all seniors are poor, therefore they need NO discounts, while some non-seniors are needy but get no discount. This same logic applies to other breaks for seniors as the extra income tax exemptions and discounted license stickers in Morton Grove. Not a good idea as income is ignored. And yes-I am a senior but not self serving!
anita straus
7:53 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
If we got raises in our Social Seciruty and our dividends would stop decreasing, paying half-fare would be ok, but the way it is our incomes go down and our costs of living go up..the free ride program has been so helpful..and now with gas prices so high, driving only when absolutely a must takes precedence so public transportance is even more appreciated.
Annoymous..Glenview
Pat Craig
9:26 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Just a couple of observations from a senior citizen:
1) NOTHING is free that comes from government. If one person does not pay for a service it just means that the rest who do pay are subsidizing the "freeloader".
2) Social Security was NEVER intended to be a complete retirement program. It was meant to supplement what the individual put aside.
3) There is nothing "magic" about attaining a certain age that entitles any person to anything except possibly congratulations for not having died yet.
and, by the way...
GET OFF MY LAWN!