Audit finds senior free-ride transit card misuse
A soon-to-be released audit by the Regional Transportation Authority has found fraud and abuse in a program providing free rides to Illinois senior citizens.
The audit has found many cases of free passes meant for senior citizens used after the registered cardholder had died, according to a report from WFLD-TV in Chicago and the Better Government Association. There also is evidence the cards have been sold.
"We certainly know this is a travesty and something we've already become aware of and are addressing," RTA spokeswoman Diane Palmer said.
The agency reviewed about 400,000 senior free-ride cards and found 3,000 users had died, Palmer said. Of those 3,000, the RTA audit found about 160 were still in use anywhere from a few times to 1,400 times. Palmer said the misuse takes advantage of the free rides for senior citizens at a time when the transit systems "is in dire straits."
In 2008, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted on the free-rides in exchange for signing a sales tax increase to bail out transit agencies. However legislation has been brought up in the Illinois House to withdraw the two-year-old perk from tens of thousands of better-off seniors.
The Chicago metropolitan area accounts for most beneficiaries. The RTA estimates more than 400,000 seniors currently qualify for free rides.
Transit agencies have said the free rides add to financial troubles.
The Regional Transportation Authority that oversees the nation's second largest transit system says ending the free-rides program could generate millions of dollars for Chicago agencies, which include Metra trains, and Chicago Transit Authority buses and El trains.
The CTA has said the number of free rides are exceeding expectations. The transit agency said in August that about 37.5 million free rides were taken from January through June this year by senior citizens, active and disabled military veterans and low-income individuals.
That is 2.5 million more free rides than the same period last year.