Passenger Link – August 2024
New and Improved Buses
CityLink has been seeking to improve our bus fleet for some time, and we are finally seeing those results hit the road this past month! Our transportation offerings feature a fleet of 53 buses, including 4 hybrid and 3 electric models. Our 10 newest buses joined the fleet officially on July 12, 2024, with all of them now in circulation on our fixed routes.
Although we are lucky to have newer buses available, we have also been hard at work by upgrading our older buses. One of our newly renovated buses is in circulation now. This bus has been given a refreshed look and is a way for us to continue to provide a positive experience riding the bus, even on an older model. We look forward to upgrading more of our buses soon.
Low & No Emission Grant
Looking to a greener future, we can expect to see new electric buses joining our fleet in about three years. On July 9, 2024, it was announced that Congressman Eric Sorensen of Illinois 17th District, alongside U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth disclosed that the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District, CityLink, has secured a substantial grant of $14,415,095 from the FY24 Low and No Emission Grant Program. The program funding boost is designated to facilitate the crucial shift of CityLink’s Aging Diesel Fixed-Route Fleet to an eco-friendly Zero Emission Fleet in Peoria. Currently, CityLink operates three electric buses, a number set to soar as approximately 10 additional electric buses are slated to join the fleet courtesy of this funding opportunity. Thanks to this grant, we will make our bus fleet more eco-friendly while helping service our community in the Peoria area.
City of Peoria Police Chief Introduction
Our CityLink team had a productive meeting with City of Peoria, Police Chief Eric Echevarria. The purpose of the meeting was to foster stronger community relationships, brainstorm ideas for enhancing public safety for our customers, and promoting collaborative community projects. CityLink is delighted to have fantastic community partners in the Greater Peoria Tri-County Region.
Central Illinois Emergency Expo
On July 25, 2024, CityLink attended the Central Illinois Emergency Expo at Grand Prairie. This event was in partnership with the Peoria County Government, allowing families the chance to see emergency response vehicles up close and get to meet the heroes of our community. We had nearly 2,000 attendees check out our new bus. It was so fun seeing all of our littlest passengers getting excited to step aboard a bus and talk with our friendly bus operator, Rodney!
3rd Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair
Our 3rd Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair on July 26, 2024 was a huge success! Our ADA Committee worked hard to make sure that the event was welcoming, exciting and informative for all. From delicious food, balloon animals and face painting, to our community partners providing valuable resources, attendees left with plenty of goodies and some were even lucky to win some of the amazing baskets being raffled off! We’re already looking ahead to next year’s event and how to make it even better than this year’s!
Local Free Entry Opportunities for Passengers
CityLink is pleased to share that it will be partnering with the Peoria Zoo for free entry all throughout the month of August 2024! Passengers of CityLink, CityLift, or CountyLink simply show their bus pass/ticket at the admission desks for each institution to gain free general entry.
Below is the list of accepted bus passes/tickets:
- CityLink Day Pass – $3 per pass
Offers unlimited fixed route rides for one
complete service day - CityLink 30-Day Pass – $40 per pass
Offers unlimited fixed route rides for 30
consecutive service days - CityLift Ticket – $2 per ticket
Offers one ride on the paratransit service and
this service requires eligibility to ride - CountyLink/CAUSE Ticket – $6 per ticket
Offers one ride on the rural transportation
service and this service requires that a trip
begins or ends in the rural part of Peoria County - CityLink Benefit Access Card – Valid and Up-to Date
Offers transportation for those individuals who do not have the functional capability to use the fixed-route system
The Peoria Zoo is located in Glen Oak Park at 2320 N. Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603. There is close access to Glen Oak Park and the Peoria Zoo on the #12 Heights CityLink fixed route. For questions regarding CityLink, CityLift or CountyLink services, please call 309-676-4040 or visit www.ridecitylink.org
Staying Cool in the Heat
On a hot and sunny day, CityLink team members were maintaining the lawn in front of the CityLink admin building with admirable dedication, all while keeping their cool. Their hard work and infectious smiles do not go unnoticed. Thank you for your outstanding efforts!
Practicing Sun Safety
Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. It’s important to use sun protection all year round, not just during the summer.
- Stay in the shade – Especially during the midday hours (between 10 am and 4 pm) when the sun’s rays are the most harmful.
- Wear protective clothing – When possible, wear tightly knit fabrics that cover parts of your body that would be in the sun. Regular clothing only offers up to SPF 15 protection, but there is some certified clothing that offers higher UV protection. If you are covering your body with clothing, it is recommended to use other forms of protection, such as sunscreen, as well.
- Wear a hat – Wearing a wide brimmed hat can provide shade for your face, head, ears and neck.
- Wear sunglasses – Too much exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes and increase your risk of developing certain diseases such as cataracts and eye cancer. Choose sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Use sunscreen – Look for a sunscreen that contains at least an SPF of 30 or higher, has both UVA and UVB protection and is water resistant. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before you are in the sun and reapply if you are out in the sun for more than two hours or after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
Vitamin D in Foods
Vitamin D can be obtained safely through food and dietary supplements without the risks associated with overexposure to UV.
Vitamin D and Sun Exposure
You may have heard sun exposure is useful for maintaining vitamin D levels. The skin can produce only a limited amount of vitamin D at one time. Once the body has reached this limit, spending more time in the sun will not continue to increase vitamin D levels.
Food sources of vitamin D include:
• Some types of fish
• Egg yolks
• Fortified foods: cereal, juices and dairy products, such as milk and yogurt
Vitamin D Benefits and Intake
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin D in most Americans I 15 mcg (600 IU)
Vitamin D helps to:
• Promote calcium absorption in the gut
• Support bone growth
• Prevent muscle spasms and cramps
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote cell growth
• Support neuromuscular function
• Support immune function
National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to check on your immunization status as it’s the season to head back to school, and we begin to enter the cooler months ahead. This month raises the awareness about why vaccines are important for people of all ages and how they can help prevent serious, sometimes deadly, diseases and illnesses. Getting vaccines at the recommended time is the best way to protect yourself and others against these serious threats.
Immunizations play an important role in keeping your family and your community healthy. Vaccinations are important because they not only protect the person who is receiving the vaccine, but they also help to keep diseases from spreading to others such as your family, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and other members of the community. Immunizations help protect those who are the most vulnerable to illnesses, such as infants, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.
Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. In the United States, vaccines have greatly reduced infectious diseases that once routinely caused severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 50,000 adults died every year from vaccine-preventable illnesses. This month, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional to ensure that you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccinations.
Vaccines protect us from dangerous preventable diseases like Chickenpox, Flu, Hepatitis, Measles, Mumps, Meningococcal, Pneumonia, Shingles, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio and more
Immunizations are not just for children. Protection from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time. Adults may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable disease due to age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions. Adult vaccination rates in the United States are low, and most adults are not aware that they need vaccines. Individuals with certain health conditions like diabetes or heart disease are at greater risk for severe complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
Although no vaccine is 100% effective, it is the first step in protecting yourself, your family, and others from serious illnesses. You can make sure you are up to date with your immunizations by making an appointment with our partners at Everside Health, ensuring that we all stay happy and healthy.
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