Morton Grove Trying To Outsource Canceled Senior Bus Service, Other Options

Morton Grove's door-to-door transportation service for seniors, known as the , will no longer run in 2011, said Family and Senior Services Director Jackie Walker-O'Keefe on Dec. 23, the last official day of service.

Walker-O'Keefe said there is one agency that might take over the service, but she would not disclose the name of the agency or further details. 

In the meantime, the village is returning its 14-seat bus, purchased in 2008 with federal grant money, to the Illinois Transportation Department, Walker-O'Keefe said.

Since the 1970s, the village has provided residents 65 and older with a bus that travels throughout Morton Grove, picking up seniors at their homes and taking them to stores or medical appointments.

The service was free until January 2010, when a $3 one-way fare was implemented. Ridership dropped, and due to budget constraints, the service has been canceled. Village officials said running the bus was costing about $30,000 per year.   

For those 20 or so seniors who used the Seniortran Bus weekly, getting around town might become more infrequent and more expensive. At a recent Advisory Commission on Aging meeting, the group that's responsible for representing Morton Grove seniors agreed to look for other transportation solutions for seniors.

"I can understand the elimination," said commissioner Barbara Novick, referring to the high operating costs vs. the lower ridership. "I'd like to look at some of the surrounding communities to find out what they've done and find out a way to join forces."

Commissioner Nancy Brothers also suggested trying to start a senior volunteer driving program.

For now, Morton Grove seniors do have a few low-cost transportation options. Read on for more details.

Senior Travel Options

• Senior Cab Discount Coupons: Residents 65 and older can apply for $2.25 discounts on taxi-cab rides. The discounts are good for each one-ride using the American Taxi Company (847-253-4411). Seniors must apply in person at the Morton Grove Civic Center. For further information, they can call the Senior Hotline at 847-470-5223.
• RTA Seniors Ride Free Program: The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) offers free rides on all fixed route service – Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses and trains, Pace Suburban buses, and Metra trains. Seniors must apply in person (with a photo ID) at the civic center, 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday. For further information, they can call the Senior Hotline at 847-470-5223.
• ADA Paratransit Service: Riders with disabilities that preclude them from using fixed-route transit can apply to use this door-to-door service. Paratransit rides are available daily but must be reserved one day in advance at 1-800-554-7599 or 1-800-833-7223 (TTY). Applications are filled out at the civic center.
• Council for Jewish Elderly Rides to Medical Appointments: CJE Senior Life, based in Chicago, has an agreement with the village to drive Morton Grove residents to medical appointments as long as it is within the organization's range of service – all of Evanston, south into Chicago to Chicago Avenue, and west to Skokie Boulevard. They will not drive residents to any destinations within Morton Grove. To use the service, seniors must pay $25 annually; each one-way ride is $6. Seniors register by calling 773-508-1000.

Senior Travel in Neighboring Communities

Skokie: Residents over 65 or who have ADA paratransit certification can use the Senior Transit for Area Residents (STAR), a curb-to-curb service that operates Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and – for $15 a month – takes residents to any destination in Skokie and a few medical locations outside Skokie on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last year STAR transported an average of 150 residents each month and averaged 1,450 trips per month, according to 2011 budget documents. Skokie's Transportation Subdivision (within its Administrative and General Services Department) runs the program, and budgeted $209,325 for 2011. To make it cost-effective, the village uses a grant structured as a rider subsidy as well as increased dispatcher discretion on the number of buses released each day. 

Niles: The Free Bus, a courtesy bus system runs continually from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on weekends. It operates only within Niles' borders (mainly at major shopping centers and public facilities, within a short distance of every residence) and is available to all residents free of charge. Specifically for seniors, there is a discount taxi program with American Taxi: $3 coupons for trips within the village, $5 coupons for longer trips.

Lincolnwood: Seniors can pay $20 a year to receive discount taxi coupons: $3 off of trips within the village and $5 for extended trips outside the area.

Evanston: The Levy Senior Center has a 22-passenger bus that shuttles members back and forth. This bus does not leave Evanston boundaries or make door-to-door pick-ups or drop-offs. Evanston also offers a subsidized taxi program: $6 rides within Evanston, $6 discounts outside Evanston.

Glenview: Helping Hands (847-729-8181) is an organization made up of volunteers who drive seniors to medical appointments and local shops free of charge. There's a maximum of two rides per week per client. According to its website, this group provides 75-100 rides each month.