Simplify the free senior ride process

Since gas is $4 a gallon-plus, I, as a senior citizen, decided to get a free Metra boarding pass which our illustrious governor and our equally illustrious state legislature have deemed fit to provide the "sunset years" crowd.

What a thoughtful gesture, I mused, for members of the "greatest generation," and the "baby boomer" set.

Then I went down to City Hall and painfully faced reality.

First, fill out the usual form -- no major problem.

Second, provide a picture of yourself -1½-inch square with a blue background. At my City Hall, there was no picture-taking facility, nor was I told where to get a picture taken.

Third, provide a photo copy (legible) of a government-issued photo ID, i.e. a driver's license. No one volunteered to photo copy my ID.

Fourth, and worst of all, I was told it takes three to four weeks to get your Senior Ride Free Smart Card once items 1,2 and 3 were satisfactorily provided.

You would think someone in state government would have simply solved this time-consuming dilemma, doing all this at a nearby driver testing facility run by the Secretary of State's office. You know, the place where you can get your picture taken, fill out the appropriate paperwork and get a license renewed in hours, if not minutes.

Sounds too simple, right?

Dean A. Dranias

Aurora