The move follows Gov. Pat Quinn's decision in February to sign legislation limiting free rides to only low-income senior citizens, age 65 or older
Replacement permits will be issued to seniors currently in the free-rides program who continue to qualify for free rides, as well as to seniors who on Sept. 1 will start paying reduced fares.
"Seniors do not have to reapply for either permit if they are currently in the free-rides program," said Joseph Costello, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority.
Of the more than 440,000 seniors enrolled in the free-rides program, only about 25,000 are expected to qualify for free rides when the changes take effect, Costello said. The rest would pay reduced fares.
Under the new law, only seniors who qualify for the Illinois Department on Aging Circuit Breaker program will be eligible for free rides.
To qualify, a single senior would have to have an annual income of $27,610 or less. A household of two would have to have an annual income of less than $36,635. For households of three or more, the annual income would have to be $45,657 or less.
The free rides cost the CTA, Metra and Pace between $38 million and $116 million last year, according to a report from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
CTA, Metra and Pace are projected to see fare revenues increase by about $30 million annually due to the change, Costello said.
"Hopefully this will help offset increased costs" for fuel and other expenses, he said.
Costs to administer the new program are estimated at more than $1 million, the RTA said.
In addition to sending out new free-ride permits, the RTA said it will issue new photo identification cards for seniors who don't qualify as low-income so they can receive the reduced fare.
Seniors paying the reduced fares will be able to put money on their news cards to use on trains and buses, officials said. Money can be added to the cards at CTA fare-card vending machines.
Metra riders must display their cards to Metra ticket agents or conductors to pay half fares.
Half-fares was the policy for seniors before former Gov. Rod Blagojevich created the free-rides program three years ago, as a condition for him agreeing to legislation increasing the sales tax to fund mass transit.
Quinn initially said he would not scale back the program, but he changed his position after the General Assembly passed the measure by overwhelming votes in January.
The RTA said starting today new applications for the seniors ride free program will be means-tested with the Department on Aging Circuit Breaker program. Individuals who qualify for the Circuit Breaker program will receive a new senior “Circuit Ride Free” card. All others will receive a “Reduced Fare” card.
The RTA will stop processing replacement cards for the current seniors ride free program on July 1 to avoid sending duplicate cards.
The agency intends to start mailing out new magnetic stripe cards on Aug. 1 for fixed-route service for all seniors enrolled in the seniors ride free program. Depending on their eligibility, seniors will receive either a Circuit Ride Free card or a Reduced Fare card.
Seniors who haven't received a replacement permit by Aug. 15 should call the RTA at 312-913-3110, officials said.
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