CHICAGO -- Starting Thursday (April 2) , seniors can no longer use a Senior Reduced Fare Permit to board CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains for free, officials said Wednesday.
Seniors wishing to board for free must now hold a Senior Ride Free Smart Card, officials at the Regional Transportation Authority announced. Seniors with a reduced-fare permit will be required to pay the reduced fare, officials said.
The RTA said it sent notices about the policy change to seniors living in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties.
Applications are being taken at the Customer Service Center at 165 N. Jefferson St. and at 200 other locations. To find a nearby location, seniors may call 836-7000 from any local area code. First-time applications for the Smart Card can only be done in-person, and it takes about three to four weeks to process an application, the agency said.
(The preceding article by Deanese Williams-Harris was published April 2, 2009, by The Chicago Tribune.)
