Roadblock up for ending free transit for state’s seniors; other fares may make up for it

By AP

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CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois senior citizens can continue riding for free on mass transit, but the perk means other commuters could see their fares increase.

Officials and lawmakers had talked about limiting the freebie to low-income seniors to lessen the burden on cash-strapped mass transit systems in the Chicago area, but lawmakers didn’t have the votes Friday.

“On so many levels, there were so many things wrong with that plan. I’m glad it’s dead,” said Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago.

By not bringing the matter to a vote, lawmakers also avoided the politically thorny issue of irritating seniors, a dependable voting bloc around the state, just months before Illinois’ Feb. 2 primary.

Lawmakers said it would be wrong to take the benefit from the elderly that was started last year by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“We want the seniors to ride free all over the state,” said state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago.

But Democratic Sen. Martin Sandoval of Cicero called lawmakers’ inaction “hypocritical” because seniors would be affected if transit agencies cut services – and minorities and the working class would be hurt by fare increases – because of funding shortfalls.

The Regional Transportation Authority has said Chicago-area mass transit agencies could save about $37 million if the free rides were curtailed with the largest amount of savings – about $25 million – for the Chicago Transit Authority.

The CTA had agreed to hold fares steady for two years if the free rides program was curtailed, said CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney. Because lawmakers didn’t do that, the CTA is moving ahead with a proposed budget that raises fares, cuts service and lays off more than 1,000 employees, Gaffney said.

RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly called income restrictions on senior free rides “a common-sense approach” that would have maintained transit services and restored needed revenue to the transit agencies.

Keeping rides free for all seniors means the commuter rail system Metra will go forward with its proposal to raise fares on one-way and weekend tickets, and raise the penalty from $2 to $5 on people who wait to buy tickets on a train when a station ticket agent is available.

“The majority of Metra’s riders will not be affected by a fare increase,” spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.

Pardonnet said the fare increases will bring in about $6 million, money that could have been found if the senior free rides program was limited.

MetroLink on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities isn’t planning any fare increases because of the continuation of the free rides, spokeswoman Jennifer Garrity said.