Seniors ride free -- even after their deaths

The deceased have long been accused of voting in Chicago-area elections, and now they apparently also ride public transit.

Or at least their free-ride cards do, reports the RTA, citing an audit that shows more than 5 percent of seniors' free-ride cards are used after their deaths.

Deputy Executive Director Grace Gallucci delivered a report on the abuse of Senior Ride Free cards at the RTA Board meeting Thursday.

She said the audit turned up 3,142 cards belonging to deceased riders, and 164 had been used after the rider's death more than 5 percent. One was used 1,411 times.

Considering there are more than 20,000 cardholder deaths each year in Chicago and the collar counties, she said it could lead to 1,000 cards being used illegally at a cost of $1.4 million a small but not negligible amount of money and that the problem would worsen as the Baby Boom generation passes into retirement age.

Gallucci said 427,000 cards have been issued to people over age 65 since the program was passed under then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The RTA might impose annual re-registration for the cards, according to Board Chairman John Gates Jr. He said the cards might also be issued with the holder's name, making violations more enforceable at turnstiles with charges of fare evasion.

The Better Government Association joined with Fox WFLD-TV Channel 32 in a recent report drawing attention to abuses in the free-ride program. An audit into other misuse of the cards such as the cards being lent or borrowed continues, with Gallucci adding it should be completed in the next few months.

Newly appointed Executive Director Joseph Costello said the Senior Free Ride program would be “unsustainable going forward,” with the increasing senior population, but that he was lobbying in Springfield to continue the program for poorer seniors, with others getting the reduced fares mandated by Congress.