Patricia Irwin, 70, of Chicago waits for a bus in the 6000 block of Sheridan Road in Chicago on Friday. Irwin says she rides the bus daily. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he wants senior citizens to use public transportation for free. (Tribune photo by Bonnie Trafelet / January 11, 2008)CHICAGO (Chicago Tribune), January 11, 2008:
Illinois senior citizens would ride free on public transit systems throughout the state if the legislature accepts Governor Rod Blagojevich's conditions for approval of transit funding legislation.
Under the pending legislation, Illinois would become the only state to provide free public transit to seniors at all times of day. This would apply only on so-called fixed-route buses and trains, not for ADA paratransit riders or other specialized services.
Transit systems in Pennsylvania, which uses lottery revenue to subsidize seniors' rides, also offer free rides for seniors, but often during off-peak hours only, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Those 65 and older who make two round trips a week on the CTA could save $176 a year if lawmakers give the legislation final approval next week.
Similarly, seniors who ride Metra trains twice a week could save about $405 a year and those riding Pace buses could save $156 a year, according to the estimates.
Officials said that waiving fares for seniors might attract those who don't ordinarily ride public transit and thus reduce traffic on the roads. Seniors might also ride more during off-peak hours, filling underutilized buses.
The RTA has issued reduced-fare ID cards to about 250,000 people 65 and over. The cards allow seniors to ride the CTA for half-fare. The fare for a senior who pays cash is $1 and 85 cents for one who pays with a transit card, according to the CTA.
On Pace, seniors now pay 75 cents a ride, reduced from the normal $1.50.
Metra's fare structure is more complicated, because it is distance-based, but seniors pay approximately half the cost of a single-ticket ride.
By Richard Wronski |Tribune staff reporter
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
