Passenger Link – May 2026

Bus Operator Graduation

Congratulations to our two new bus operators, Nunii (#207) and Jasmin (#206) on their graduation on April 24, 2026! Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off. Thank you trainer Tracy for always going above and beyond to help prepare the team to succeed behind the wheel! We’re excited to see you on the road and part of the team!

Trillium Place Partnership

On Fridays throughout the year, members from the CORS program from Trillium Place will be set up in the Transit Center lobby, meeting our passengers and providing resources to help those who may be in need. The CORS program is meant to be a bridge of success for those battling homelessness or housing instability, substance use, medical complications, risk or overdose or incarceration. Additional community resources are also available.

Proudly affiliated with Carle Health, Trillium Place is a not for profit organization originally formed in April 2019 by joining UnityPoint Health Behavioral Health Services, the Human Service Center, and Tazwood Center for Wellness. The goal in aligning those organizations was to create a comprehensive community and hospital-based system of behavioral health, as well as integrate inpatient and outpatient services. With locations in Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, Lincoln, and Eureka, Trillium Place is proud to offer the most comprehensive addiction and mental health services in central Illinois. Their compassionate treatment team is comprised of many experts in psychiatry, addiction medicine, and behavioral health to meet individual’s wellness needs.

Trillium Place is open from 9:00 —11:00 AM every Friday, with adjusted hours of 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the second Friday of each month at the transit center. Feel free to stop by and say hello

Jerome Lilly Passenger Appreciation Day

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, we celebrated the 17th annual Jerome Lilly Passenger Appreciation Day. This annual tradition recognizes Jerome Lilly, CityLink’s beloved General Manager, who passed away unexpectedly in 2007, and continues to honor his lasting impact on public transportation in our community.

The Marketing & Community Engagement Team spent the morning in the Transit Center lobby, handing out small gifts as a token of our appreciation. Customer experience surveys were also conducted throughout the morning to gain passenger’s valuable feedback.

Passenger Appreciation Day is observed each year around April 20, marking Lilly’s birthday. We were especially grateful to welcome many of his friends and family to the downtown Transit Center, dedicated in his honor in 2009, as we shared memories and reflected on his legacy.

5^th Annual ADA WOW

Mark your calendars! The 5th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration and Resource Fair will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2026 from 4:30—6:30 p.m. at EP!C. We’re excited to bring this event back to EP!C as we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being signed into law by President George H. W. Bush. 

Vendors will be available to provide information on their services, products and will hand out free giveaways to attendees. GPMTD’s transportation services – CityLink (fixed route), CityLift (paratransit) and CountyLink (rural) – will have vehicles on-site to showcase their accessibility features.

For more information, please visit our website at ridecitylink.org/mobility/adaevents

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Please consider incorporating the following into your monthly routine.

Community Engagement

CityLink was a proud supporter of the Peoria Fashion Week, held from April 2-4, 2026. Dr. ShamRA and Stephanie were in attendance to support local designers, as well as valued community partners such as EP!C, CWTC, OSF, Busey Bank, Bradley University, Peoria Public Schools, and Andrea and her son, Jonte, of Just Like You, who proudly walked the runway.

Members of the CityLink team attended the Tri-County Urban League’s 25th Annual Black and White Gala on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The event marked the Tri-County Urban League’s 61^st year of outstanding service in Peoria. The benefit’s theme this year was “The Sounds of Opportunity”, and attendees were serenaded by the musical talents of Victor Solomon. 

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Tazewell County Resource Fair was held at East Peoria Community High School. Nearly 40 local agencies, including CityLink and Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, connected with families and individuals. Great resources on inclusion, transportation, and housing, advocacy, and more.

 
National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Designating a national month in 1956 presents an opportunity to highlight the various benefits of bicycling and inspire more people to give biking a try. Riding a bike is healthy, fun, and a low-impact form of exercise for all ages. Biking regularly has been proven to increase cardiovascular fitness while decreasing stress and body fat levels. It can also help to protect you from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis.

 If you’re looking to bike this Spring, you can easily “bike and ride” with CityLink! You can bring a standard-size bike on the bus, if there’s room in the bike rack located on the front of the bus. The racks can fill up quickly at rush hour so plan ahead. There are many bike paths around Peoria that you can check out, and many CityLink bus stops are along the trail for you to easily cycle around town.