Can we afford to let seniors ride free?
As it is right now, all seniors who can prove they are 65 are eligible for half price fares.
This already is a great discount on their tickets.
This current policy is also quite relaxed from a previous policy. The past policy was for seniors who lived in the six county areas that the RTA provided public transportation to. Seniors also had to obtain a photo I.D. RTA transit card.
Will the governor's plan allow all seniors or just the seniors in the six-county area? How will this lack of revenue be funded?
Does the governor not realize that every year, the amount of seniors riding free will increase? This will continue to be a bigger loss of revenue every year.
To say that this sales tax
will make everything solvent for years to come is ludicrous!
Obviously our state legislators did not take the seniors riding free into account when passing increasing the sales tax. This will become a funding nightmare in the future.
What was our governor thinking?
Frank Klimala
Rolling Meadows