Posted Online: Posted online: January 11, 2008 6:07 PM
Print publication date: 01/12/2008
MetroLink: Free service for seniors `great'
By Brandy Donaldson , bdonaldson@qconline.com
A bill designed to rescue the ailing Chicago transit system was recently tweaked by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to add a statewide measure that could greatly impact the Quad-Cities if approved.
The governor agreed Thursday to sign a $500 million sales and real estate transfer tax increase for the greater Chicago area to aid the area's financially troubled transit system, but did so only after attaching a mandate to allow all Illinois senior citizens, 65 and older, to ride public transit (buses and trains) for free.
His add-on "sweetened" and "improved" the existing bill, Gov. Blagojevich said, adding that he signed it in the "spirit of compromise."
Of the approximately 2.5 million who rode MetroLink last year in the Illinois Quad-Cities, between 175,000 and 200,000 were senior citizens (60+), accounting for about $71,000 in revenue, according to MetroLink general manager Jeff Nelson. He said the governor's proposal, conceptually, is a good thing.
"It would be a great opportunity if our senior customers could have free public transit in our community," he said. "We see it as a positive impact on the community, by providing better access to transportation for our seniors. That can only be good."
Wanda Chevalier, 83, of East Moline has been riding MetroLink since she stopped driving about three years ago. She's the MetroLink ambassador for the Ridgewood Towers residential facility where she's lived 21 years. She helps other residents get acclimated to using public transit.
"I think it would be wonderful (if senior citizens rode free)," she said. "A lot of elderly people don't have retirement funds and just live on social security, which is constantly going down. Most elderly people don't have much extra income."
Public transit is invaluable to individuals such as herself, Ms. Chevalier said.
"Letting seniors ride free is ideal," she said. "Since I got rid of my car, I don't know what I'd do without the bus. If I have to go to the doctor or to buy groceries, I ride the bus."
Merwin Evans, 68 and his wife Bobbie, of East Moline ride MetroLink almost every day. Even though Mrs. Evans isn't yet 65, the proposed bill would benefit them greatly just by eliminating one of their fares, the couple said.
"It would save us a lot of money," Mrs. Evans said.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been riding the bus about nine years.
"There's a lot of times I would've been stuck had it not been for the bus," Mr. Evans said. "It goes pretty much everywhere we need to go or close enough to it."
The bill passed through both houses of the state legislature before it was altered by the governor, but has yet to be signed into law. Until then, Illinois seniors must still pay to ride public transit, including MetroLink.
"We'll wait and see what the bill looks like... so we can see what real impact it will have on our system," Mr. Nelson said. "It's kind of hard to work on conjecture. ...
"If it does happen, the transit authority will make sure that opportunity is clearly provided in this area. But, right now, we still need the legislature to sign off on it."
If the state helps them absorb the possible financial loss, the bill would be mutually beneficial for both MetroLink and its elderly riders, Mr. Nelson said.
"You'd probably see more utilization of the transit system by senior citizens if this is passed -- which is good," he said. "We're always glad to see more people riding the bus, even if it would be a free fare.
"The state does invest in public transit. So if this passes, we can hopefully anticipate the state will provide a higher level of investment than they currently are. We'll stay cautiously optimistic that all parties will stay on the same path and produce a win-win situation."
According to Gov. Blagojevich, the bill would cost the state about $20 million a year.