Passenger Link – August 2025

Job Fair

CityLink is hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the CityLink Administration Building, 129 Van Buren Street, Peoria, IL, 61603. Explore exciting opportunities for part-time and full-time bus operator positions, connect with our team, and even participate in on-the-spot interviews. This is a great chance to take the next step in your career and learn more about working with CityLink. Don’t forget to bring your resume! We look forward to seeing you there.

Healthy Snack Options

With the intense summer heat, the last thing you may want to do is turn on the oven to bake a sweet treat. Instead, try this No-Bake Protein Ball recipe to enjoy on a warm day!

Community Engagement

On July 17, 2025, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team met with Katie Pogeman, the Vice President of the Rivermen Hockey Team, to discuss this year’s partnership. During our discussion, we received an exclusive first look at this year’s Peanuts specialty hockey jersey featuring CityLink’s logo as the sponsor for two games this fall. We also talked about the plans for Stuff-A-Bus food drive campaign. Be sure to save the dates for this year’s CityLink-sponsored games, happening on November 28 and 29. It’s the perfect opportunity to gather the family and celebrate Thanksgiving while supporting the Stuff-A-Bus food drive, which will take place during the CityLink-sponsored games on those dates.

Also on July 17, CityLink proudly partnered with the Peoria Police Department’s Social Services Unit for the Safe Zone Lock-In at Wildlife Prairie Park. This exciting evening gave junior high students a safe and engaging environment to relax and have fun, featuring activities like laser tag, obstacle courses, animal encounters, and more. CityLink provided transportation for the event using the wrapped PPD bus, helping shuttle participants between the Police Department and the park. The event filled up with participants quickly and a fun time was had by all! A special thank you to bus operator Amos for
ensuring the kids arrived safely and enjoyed a night full of fun and memories!

On July 18, 2025, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team “took to the western skies” to support a promotional photoshoot for the North American tour of Wicked, coming to the Prairie Home Alliance Theater in August. Coordinating with the Peoria Civic Center, we provided the Wicked-wrapped bus for a variety of promotional opportunities aimed at building excitement for the show’s arrival.

Also on July 18, Dr. ShamRA Robinson met with Marcellus Sommerville with the Peoria Friendship House to discuss the upcoming Stuff-A-Bus food drive, and how we can help in the meantime with their depleted food pantry. Although last year’s campaign brought in a successful 10 tons of food, the growing need for food in our community has left the food pantry with bare shelves sooner than expected. Any help is always appreciated.

To end the very busy Friday, July 18 2025, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team attended the PCCEO Head Start Resource Fair. This fair provided valuable resources from community partners, including free physicals and immunizations for children. Other community partners were in attendance, including OSF HealthCare and Ameren Illinois, who were eager to help provide information to help parents and children succeed.

On Sunday, July 20, 2025, Dr. ShamRA Robinson was honored to serve as the master of ceremonies for the Peoria Municipal Band’s Circus Days concert at Glen Oak Park. Michael Archer performed a wonderful trombone solo and David Blasco sang some of his favorite songs fitting the circus theme. Collaborating with Dr. David Vroman, the Director of the Peoria Municipal Band, Dr. Robinson shared interesting insights and history about the music preceding each performance. Additionally, she highlighted the public transportation services offered by CityLink. With the backing of the City of Peoria, the Municipal Band upholds its esteemed tradition of musical excellence.

On July 29, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team met with Parish Mason, the General Manager of Bradley University Sports Properties, to discuss a potential upcoming promotional partnership. We have partnered with Bradley University on their recent marketing initiative, which involves creating advertisements on CityLink buses and television commercials. Some of their ads promote a campaign that cleverly uses a play on words with the university’s abbreviation, “BU” to encourage prospective students to “Be You.”

Dr. ShamRA Robinson attended and participated in the Almost Home Kids open house as a representative of CityLink. The event, held in mid-June, showcased an extended program affiliated with OSF Children’s Hospital. Almost Home Kids offers a transitional support system from hospital to home through an innovative, community-based care model for children with complex medical needs. Thanks to the support of CityLift services, our transportation team has played a vital role in enabling some clients to access important doctor’s appointments and essential physical therapy sessions.

ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair

CityLink’s 4th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair on July 24, 2025 was a huge success! The ADA Advisory 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!

Thank you to all our partners who helped make this event extremely successful for the ADA community:

· CityLink

· CityLift & CountyLink (Transdev)

· City of Peoria

· Best Buddies Illinois

· Center for Youth & Family Solutions

· EP!C

· Andrea Brock—Just Like You

· National Multiple Sclerosis Society — Central Illinois Community Council

· Central Illinois Agency on Aging

· Tazwell County Resource Centers / We Care

· Advocates for Access

· Prairieland Adoptive

· Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association

· Whiplash Photography

· Expressions Body Art & Design—Face Painting

· Smothers Catering

· Sweet Temptationz

· Unique Twist

· Chaquita’s Creations

· Beyond Barriers (A Goodwill program)

· CityLink ADA Advisory Committee

Labor Day Hours

Free Admission – Peoria Zoo

CityLink and the Peoria Zoo are partnering for the month of August to offer a free entry
opportunity for CityLink, CityLift, CountyLink and Benefit Access passengers who present a bus pass or ticket for one of these services. Passengers simply show their bus pass/ticket at the zoo’s admission desk to gain free general entry to the Peoria Zoo and its exhibits. One bus pass/ticket is required per adult. This free entry promotion does not include any additional costs for giraffe or budgie feedings.

“The Peoria Zoo and Luthy Botanical Gardens are proud to partner with CityLink. Increased use of public transportation is a wonderful way to help the environment. The Peoria Zoo is excited to offer the opportunity for CityLink riders to visit the zoo for the cost of a ticket. A strong public transportation system allows opportunities for everyone to experience the wonderful community attractions that Peoria has to offer.”

~ Max Lakes, Director of the Peoria Zoo & Luthy Botanical Gardens

Current admission prices for the Peoria Zoo are $12.50 for adults aged 13 and over, $11.50 for seniors aged 65+ and active military, $9 for children aged 2-12 and free for children aged 1 and under. The Peoria Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the last admission time at 4:30 p.m. For more information on the zoo, please call 309-686-3365 or visit peoriazoo.org.

Admission to the Luthy Botanical Gardens is free, and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the gate closing at 4:30 p.m. For more information on the botanical garden, please call 309-681-3506 or visit peoriaparks.org.

There will be additional free entry opportunities for CityLink, CityLift and CountyLink passengers at the Caterpillar Visitors Center in October and the Peoria Riverfront Museum in December.  More information on these partnerships will be shared in the coming months.

The Peoria Zoo is located at 2320 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603 and within the Glen Oak Park campus you can find Luthy Botanical Garden and other amenities making it a daylong destination. There is close access to Glen Oak Park on the #12 Heights CityLink fixed route.  For questions regarding CityLink, CityLift or CountyLink services, please call 309-676-4040 or visit ridecitylink.org.