Passenger Link – September 2025

Retirement Celebrations

On August 15, 2025, we wished Mark a happy retirement! Mark was a dedicated bus operator for 12 years and looks forward to his next chapter of life in Branson, Missouri, where he will be a school bus driver. He looks to impart wisdom to the next generation of bus operators, encouraging them to ‘give it their all’ at CityLink. We thank Mark for his years of service.

We celebrated another retirement on August 22, 2025, where we sent Joe with many well wishes after being a loyal bus operator for over 26 years. We are truly grateful for his unwavering dedication and service to our community. We were even blessed with other past bus operators and friends coming to send “the King” off with well wishes. Congratulations Joe as you embark on this exciting new chapter!

We celebrated David retirement on August 27, 2025. After 18 years of dedicated service, David’s steady presence and commitment will be deeply missed by both his coworkers and the many passengers whose daily routines he helped make easier. Thank you to the fellow retirees for joining in the celebration! Enjoy cruising down Route 66!

 Bus Operator Graduation

Congratulations to our newest bus operators on successfully completing their training and graduating on Friday, August 22, 2025! Please join us in welcoming Christopher, Quentin, Scott, and Sherron to the CityLink team. We applaud your dedication and hard work, and we look forward to seeing you behind the wheel. Thank you to trainer Tracy for preparing our new operators to be their best while on the road.

CityLink Job Fair

CityLink held a successful job fair on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Applicants had the chance to meet with leaders of the Human Resources and Operations departments while participating in on-the-spot interviews. Several individuals fit the qualifications to advance to the next process in hopes of a future job opportunity.

 
Community Engagement

On August 1, 2025, CityLink was proud to take part in the Soul Fest organized by the Peoria Park District. At the event, CityLink representatives informed attendees about the public transportation options available in Peoria, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. Also, they offered complimentary items at the CityLink booth. The Gospel Fest delivered an unforgettable evening filled with inspiring and uplifting performances set against the scenic backdrop of the Peoria Riverfront. We were also fortunate to capture a photo with Mary Peterson, one of our outstanding community partners from the Peoria Police Department.

The Marketing & Community Engagement and Maintenance Teams partnered once again with Solvera Health on August 5, 2025, to produce a series of commercials spotlighting our joint initiative and showcasing Solvera Health’s new bus wraps. As part of the campaign, Solvera Health is launching a fun and interactive community competition, where residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for their wrapped buses around town. If they spot one, they’ll have a chance to win free CityLink bus passes.

On August 6, 2025, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team had the pleasure of being invited to a Peoria Chiefs baseball game, courtesy of our valued partners, Adams Outdoors. Adams Outdoors generously hosted the invitees in one of the Chiefs’ private boxes, providing a fun and memorable experience for all in attendance. The team even met Homer, whom CityLink sponsors with the CityLink logo on the back of his jersey. This community partnered event served as a great opportunity to strengthen the ongoing partnership between Adams Outdoors, Peoria Chiefs, and CityLink. Building community relationships provides greater collaboration and shared success in future initiatives.

On August 9, 2025, members of the CityLink leadership team attended the Minority Business Development Center Small Business Gala. Attendees helped contribute to important conversations, building powerful connections, and celebrating the vision for a stronger, more inclusive business community in Peoria.  

Ericka White, State Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center Network, was the keynote speaker at the Gala, sharing her insight and inspiration when it comes to economic development and business advocacy across Illinois.

On August 21, 2025, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team attended the Public Service Appreciation Day at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. This day was established to recognize and appreciate elected and appointed public officials, from school boards to local city councils, state representatives, and those in Congress. Also, we recognized Alice Walton Day in Peoria County, showing the museum’s appreciation for philanthropist Alice Walton and her Art Bridges Foundation. A special recognition was given from Peoria Riverfront Museum Board Member Emerita, Sally Snyder, to honor Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat. She was recognized for her dedication to ensuring that every student from kindergarten to eighth grade can visit the museum for free as part of the Every Student Initiative. 

High School Solidarity

Following a recent incident of gun violence near Manual High School, Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria issued a call to action, asking the men of Peoria to stand outside the school and help create a safe, welcoming environment for students as they began their day. In response, hundreds of men and women from across the community came together in a powerful show of unity and support. The overwhelming success of the initiative at Manual has since inspired similar efforts at other local high schools, including Central and Richwoods.

The visible presence of fathers, guardians, mentors, and role models sends a clear message to students: they are seen, supported, and valued. Chief Echevarria continues to encourage community members to remain actively involved, before, during, and after school, to help ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of Peoria’s youth.

Riverplex Advertisement

In August, a new CityLink banner was installed along the walking track area at the RiverPlex Recreation and Wellness Center. This banner features a QR code from CityLink, giving easy access to bus schedules for those who use public transportation to travel to and from the RiverPlex and throughout the Peoria area. We are excited to introduce this new addition to the RiverPlex as part of our ongoing partnership with the Peoria Park District.

Together, we collaborate annually on special months that offer free admission to the zoo and the Peoria PlayHouse Museum with a bus pass. The Peoria Park District does an
excellent job advertising on our buses each year, and through this trade agreement, we’re thrilled to expand marketing efforts at the RiverPlex to better inform the community about public transit options.

Stuff-A-Bus Kick Off

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10. It’s a time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness, and to focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most. National Suicide Prevention Week is Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day. It’s a time to share resources and stories, as well as promote suicide prevention awareness.

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. When individuals call the lifeline, there will first be an automated message featuring additional options to route your call to the local 988 Lifeline network crisis center. There will be brief hold music before being connected to a trained crisis worker at the local center. This worker will listen to your situation and work with you to provide support and get the help you may need.

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 49,400 deaths and 1.6 million attempts. You can be an advocate to help prevent suicide in our community.  

The 988’s message for National Prevention Month and beyond is #BeThe1To, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.

There are Five Action Steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal and these steps are supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention.

1. Ask  –  Research shows people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone talks with them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation.

2. Be There  –  Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful when speaking to someone who listens without judgment.

3. Keep them safe  –  A number of studies have indicated that when lethal means are made less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently suicide rates overall decline.

4. Help them stay connected  –  Studies indicate that helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness.

5. Follow Up  –  Studies have also shown that brief, low cost intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention, especially for individuals after they have been discharged from hospitals or care services.

Fine Free x Fare Free

Back by popular demand, the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD) will offer free CityLink bus rides throughout September for Peoria, Peoria Heights, Pekin and East Peoria in honor of National Library Card Sign-up Month. Riders will need to show a library card or student ID to ride for free during this period.

Peoria Public Library, Peoria Heights Public Library, Fondulac District Library and Pekin Public Library offer educational resources and programming to more than 165,000 residents across Peoria, Peoria Heights, East Peoria and Pekin. In September of 2024, CityLink provided 175,800rides for passengers and had amassed 1,934,339 for their overall ridership on its fixed routes in fiscal year 2024. In addition to promoting National Library Card Sign-Up Month, September is also the 5th anniversary of Peoria and Fondulac libraries going fine free, thus the “Fine Free + Fare Free” promotion.

CityLink schedule and route information is available at ridecitylink.org, and below is the list of routes with service to the participating public libraries.

Peoria Public Libraries

· Main: #10 Forrest Hill, #11 Western, #12 Heights, #14 Wisconsin

· Lincoln: #15 Lincoln

· McClure: #10 Forrest Hill

· Lakeview: #1 University

· North: #1 University

Fondulac District Library

· #8 East Peoria Sunnyland

Peoria Heights Public Library

· # 12 Heights

Pekin Public Library

· #18 Pekin South

For more information about how to obtain a library card, please contact the library associated with your residence:

· Peoria Public Library at (309) 497-2000 or peoriapubliclibrary.org

· Peoria Heights Public Library at (309) 682-5578 or peoriaheightslibrary.com

· Fondulac District Library at (309) 699-3917 or fondulaclibrary.org

· Pekin Public Library at (309) 347-7111 or pekinpubliclibrary.org

Marathon Monthly Health Tip

While health screenings may seem exhausting at first, they can save time, money and resources in the long run.

Consider the advantages of getting regular health screenings:

• Avoid severe health complications
• Better quality of life
• Comprehensive health care plans and treatments
• Early intervention for progressive diseases
• Education on healthy lifestyle choices
• Identification of risk factors
• Longer lifespan
• More data for your doctor to evaluate
• More treatment options
• Peace of mind and reduced anxiety about your health
• Reduced medical costs (individual and collective)

Prioritizing your health screenings is your best route to a healthy future.

Attending yearly checkups and following through with any health screenings your doctor asks for can catch problems early. Developing a positive relationship with your doctor is the first step to long-term health and wellness. If you don’t have a primary care provider yet, now’s the perfect time to find one.