Passenger Link – June 2025
New Board of Trustees Assignments
During the monthly Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, May 13, 2025, chair assignments for the 2025–2026 year were officially confirmed.
· Jeff Hoerr – Chair
Representing the City of Peoria since May 1, 2021
· Don Knox – Vice Chair
Representing the City of Peoria since May 1, 2022
· Patti Sterling Polk – Treasurer, Chair of the ADA Committee
Representing the City of Peoria since May 1, 2021
· Dan Morse – Secretary, Chair of the Stuff-A-Bus Committee
Representing the City of West Peoria since May 13, 2024
· Chris Ahart – Trustee, Chair of the Program Development Committee
Representing the Village of Peoria Heights since February 2, 2021
GPMTD is currently governed by a five-member board: Each board member serves a four-year term with staggering expiration dates. Trustees serve a four year term. Each participating municipality shall appoint trustees in proportion to the percentage of service received from the District by that municipality. The corporate authorities of each participating municipality shall appoint one trustee to the Board for each 30% or fraction thereof of service that the municipality receives from the District. If an even number of trustees are appointed to the Board, the corporate authorities of the municipality that receives the largest percentage of service from the District shall appoint one additional trustee.
Celebrating Retirement
Bus Operator Valeriewill be deeply missed by many at CityLink. Having served as a bus operator for 19 years, Valerie created countless cherished memories for the regular passengers on her routes. She will always hold a special place in their hearts as well as within the CityLink family. Now, as she embarks on a new chapter, Valerie looks forward to spending quality time with her family, enjoying a vacation to Hawaii, and embracing life’s pleasures. To honor her retirement and celebrate her birthday on May 22, 2025, her colleagues gathered with Valerie and her family in the employee break room at the transit center. We will all fondly remember Valerie’s radiant smile, infectious laughter, and warm, caring nature.
Bus Operator Graduation
CityLink is proud to congratulate three new graduates who have officially become bus operators serving riders throughout the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District. We are excited to welcome them to the CityLink family. On Friday, May 23, 2025, these new operators successfully completed the comprehensive training program, which covered district policies, local traffic laws, schedules, maps, and delivering safe, comfortable, and courteous public transportation. Please join us in celebrating Megan, Perry, and Michael as they embark on their new roles with the CityLink team.
Celebrating Juneteenth
Celebrating Juneteenth is an opportunity to honor and appreciate African American culture, history, and contributions. It highlights the resilience, achievements, and rich cultural heritage of the African American community, but do you know it’s origins in history?
On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.
But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth,” by the newly freed people in Texas. Today, we celebrate it nationally, embracing diversity and promoting a deeper understanding and respect for different cultures.
4th Annual ADA WOW!
Mark your calendars! The 4th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration and Resource Fair will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 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 35th 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
4th of July Holiday Hours
Community Engagement
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, our Marketing & Community Engagement Team divided and conquered two huge events happening in town. Dr. ShamRA, Director of Community Engagement and Public Relations and bus operator Mike attended the PNC Worldwide Day of Play at Glen Oak Park. This event provides a range of engaging activities and attractions to get kids moving. We partnered with the Peoria Police Department, showing off their wrapped bus and providing valuable information to families in attendance.
CityLink’s Community Engagement & Marketing Department has partnered with the Peoria Park District and the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum for the 2025 Be Anything! Experience online auction. Registration opened on May 1, and the bidding took place from May 10 to 16. This event gives young people aged 14 to 18 the chance to explore career opportunities and gain hands-on experience by working with a local business in their field of interest. CityLink is currently awaiting the selection of a suitable candidate from the auction, who will be notified by the Peoria Park District and the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum. Once matched with the winner, the student will have the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at CityLink for approximately three to four hours, learning about public transportation and the various departments involved in delivering essential community services. We are excited about this partnership and hope it inspires the young participant to consider a future career with CityLink.
Let’s congratulate Angel for being selected by the Peoria Park District as the chosen model to feature and promote the Be Anything! Experience and representing CityLink.
In East Peoria, Megan, Marketing & Community Engagement Associate, attended the Big Rig Petting Zoo. This unique “petting zoo” allowed kids to experience and explore heavy equipment that they might not get to see every day. Thank you to the Fondulac District Library for letting us show off one of our fixed-route buses and our tow truck to fellow transportation enthusiasts of all ages. A huge shoutout to bus operator Ladarius and maintenance member Josh for making incredible memories for these children who were eager to get up close and personal with our equipment.
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, several CityLink employees participated in the Walk MS Peoria event, which was hosted on the Peoria Riverfront. CityLink handed out free giveaways and engaged with attendees about public transportation options available in Peoria and surrounding communities, while supporting a great cause as we all walked to rally for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
Women’s Fund
The Community Foundation of Central Illinois Women’s Fund proudly honors outstanding female leaders from across Central Illinois for their remarkable achievements and contributions to our community. All funds raised at the luncheon support the Women’s Fund endowment, which awards grants to initiatives that empower women and girls, strengthening families and communities in Peoria and the surrounding areas.
CityLink was honored to be among the sponsors of the Women’s Fund Leader Luncheon held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. With over 200 attendees celebrating women leaders throughout the community and keynote sponsorship by Dr. Jamel Santa Cruz Wright, those recognized at the event left inspired to further serve and uplift their community.
Culture Committee
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community Engagement Department partnered with the Culture Committee to participate in a community service project on Peoria’s south side. Together with OSF leaders, we organized an effort to clean the Garden of Hope, plant fresh fruits and vegetables, and remove litter in preparation for the upcoming harvest. This collaboration was further strengthened through the CityLink Human Resources Department. In just two hours, we managed to accomplish what would typically take a week and a half of work in the garden.
We sincerely thank everyone who dedicated their time, energy, and effort, as this project will provide fresh produce to many in need. We look forward to future opportunities to work together in the community and continue supporting OSF’s Garden of Hope. United in purpose, we took great pride in revitalizing the garden. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope to come together again soon to support our community.
Transit History
This edition of Transit History looks back at the evolution of our Transit Center. Originally completed in the 400 block of SW Adams as a modern, off-street facility, it underwent a major transformation in 2020 to stay aligned with the latest advancements in transit. When opening in 2000, CityLink partnered with a local organization to open a daycare center within the Transit Center. The arrangement was the first in the nation to provide this combination of onsite childcare and transportation. The YWCA and Myah’s Just 4 Kids Learning Center previously occupied the day care center. As of January 2024, PCCEO Head Start has offered quality education for children aged from birth to five years, with over 40 years of experience in early childhood development.
Free Admission – Peoria PlayHouse
CityLink and the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum are partnering for the month of June 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 museum’s admission desk to gain free general entry to Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum and its exhibits. One bus pass/ticket is required per adult.
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 begin or end 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 PlayHouse Children’s Museum is located at 2218 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603. There is close access to the museum on the #12 Heights CityLink fixed routes. Current admission rates for the PlayHouse are $10.50 for ages 1-64, $9.50 for active military, first responders and seniors 65+, and $4.00 for families with WIC or LINK cards. The PlayHouse is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday from 12:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday for members only from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information on the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, please call 309-323-6900 or visit peoriaplayhouse.org.
There will also be a free entry opportunity for CityLink, CityLift, CountyLink and Benefit Access passengers at the Peoria Zoo in August, the Caterpillar Visitors Center in October, and the Peoria Riverfront Museum in December. More information on these partnerships will be shared later in the year.
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