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Business & Tech

VIDEO: Seniors Voice Opinions on RTA Free Ride Changes

Most seniors at a recent RTA meeting said they are OK to pay for transit.

The Regional Transit Authority, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace, held an informational meeting concerning upcoming changes to the Seniors Ride Free program Thursday afternoon at the Levy Senior Center in Evanston. Officials from all transportation services were on hand to hear questions and concerns about the changes that will go into effect Sept. 1.

The Seniors Ride Free program will now be known as the Seniors Circuit Ride Free program and the Seniors Reduced Fare program. To qualify for the Circuit Ride Ride Free program a senior would need to make less than $27, 610 individually, $36,635 for a two-person household, or $45,657 for a household of three or more.

Diane Palmer, the RTA's deputy executive director of communications, told attendees, "the bottom line is that most of you with a free ride card will be moving to a reduced fair card."

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Regular fare is $2.25 and 25 cents for two transfers made within two hours of the initial ride, while the reduced fare is 85 cents, and 15 cents respectively. Most audience members, like Patricia Greg, did not seem to have a problem with paying the reduced fair instead of paying nothing.

"It's a reasonable rate.  I think with the price of gas going up and everything else going up it's reasonable to make this change," Greg said.

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Check out Patch's video for more reactions from seniors who attended the event.

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