The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) provided an update on upcoming changes to the Seniors Ride Free program during today’s board meeting. While originally scheduled to start mailing new Circuit Ride Free and Reduced Fare permits on August 1, the RTA will begin mailing permits next week. Seniors may continue to use Seniors Ride Free cards through August 31. Starting September 1, only the new permits will be accepted on CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains.
The RTA is mailing 52,000 Circuit Ride Free permits and 375,000 Reduced Fare permits to seniors. The RTA worked with the Department on Aging to determine which low-income seniors qualified to continue riding free based on Circuit Breaker eligibility. Seniors who have not received their new permits by August 15 should contact the RTA’s Customer Service Center at 312-913-3110. Seniors using Reduced Fare permits must load value on their permits before using them. Fare value can be added at CTA vending machines or at a variety of grocery stores or currency exchanges.
Seniors wishing to qualify for free rides must register with the Department on Aging’s Circuit Breaker program and meet eligibility requirements. For more information call 800-252-8966 or visit www.cbrx.il.gov to enroll. Incomes to qualify range from $27,610 to $45,657 depending on household size.
“The RTA is pleased with our progress. We appreciate our partnership with the Service Boards and the Department on Aging to ensure that seniors have adequate information and transition seamlessly when the Seniors Ride Free program changes,” said Jody Plahm, Deputy Executive Director of Administrative Services.
CTA, Metra and Pace operators and conductors have been notified and will be reminded about the program changes. On September 1, they will be prepared for seniors that will start using their Circuit Ride Free or Reduced Fare permits. Also, car cards will be displayed in vehicles about the changes and the RTA and service boards will continue to extensively communicate about the changes.
The Seniors Ride Free program changed in February after Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation amending the RTA Act to allow only low-income seniors to continue riding free on fixed-route services. All other seniors would be required to pay a reduced fare.
For more information and updates about the Circuit Ride Free and Reduced Fare program, click headline or visit: www.RTAchicago.com.
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