Community Corner
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.
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.
Find out what's happening in Winnetka-Glencoewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Stay tuned for updates from Patch on the story and check out the full list of RTA's public hearings
