Feb 27, 2009 10:37 am US/Central
Free Public Transit For Seniors May Be Eliminated
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich Instituted Program
CHICAGO (AP) ―
The Illinois Legislature is considering putting restrictions on the free rides on public transportation now being offered seniors.
A bill sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Bassi, a Republican from Palatine, would limit free rides to seniors who qualify under the state's low-income guidelines. Other seniors would still get reduced or half-fare rides.
Advocacy groups such as AARP Illinois and Metro Seniors in Action say they have no position yet on the rollback.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich added the free ride program to a mass transit tax increase bill in January 2008.
Afterward, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would have offered the rides only to the needy. That measure died in the Senate.
The freebies for those 65 and older is expected to cost Chicago area transit agencies an estimated $58 million this year.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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