Free rides for seniors to get scrutiny

During a week when the CTA faces outrage from commuters about increasing train fares to $3 and Pace contemplates bus route cuts and raising fares for disabled riders, the RTA is set to talk about two free ride programs.

An analysis prepared for the Regional Transportation Authority and expected to be discussed today will focus on free trips for seniors and low-income individuals with disabilities.

In hopes of solving a mass transit doomsday involving layoffs, fare increases and service cuts back in 2008, Illinois lawmakers agreed to a sales tax increase to benefit Pace, Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich attached free rides for seniors, regardless of income, to the legislation as a condition to getting his approval. The legislature later added free rides for disabled individuals with limited incomes.

As of July, 348,825 were seniors registered with the RTA to take free trips. Regular fares on transit agencies range from $1.75 for Pace and $2.25 on the CTA. Metra fares range but a one-way Metra ticket from Naperville to Chicago is $4.75, for example.

At their September meeting, Metra planners reported that 302,444 seniors rode free this July, the most recent data available, compared to 276,248 in July 2008.

Senior free rides started in March 2008 and the disabilities program began a year ago.