Passenger Link – November 2026

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, we pause to honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. To our veteran employees, we thank you for your service, leadership, and the values you bring to our workplace every day. We are honored to collaborate with you and deeply appreciative of the freedoms your service has safeguarded across our nation.
At the front lobby of our Administration Building, we honor all of our veterans that work at CityLink with messages of appreciation. Thank you to all of those on our team that have served our country!

Travel Training

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, we visited the East Peoria Community High School to provide travel training to students, helping them become familiar with using public transportation. During the session, students learned essential skills like how to use a bus pass, signaling the driver when it’s time to get off, and how to safely store a bicycle on the front of the bus. These basics empower students to navigate the community independently. Thank you to bus operator Robert for assisting!

We made two visits out to the Special Education Association of Peoria County in Bartonville. Our first visit was on Friday, October 16, 2026, where students explored our fixed-route bus, traveled to the downtown Transit Center, and practiced essential bus safety skills. Our Travel Training program helps individuals build the confidence and independence to navigate public transportation in our community! Thank you to bus operator Sheri , our security officers Dave and Patricia , and our Customer Service Representatives Kedijah and Aleah for helping out!

We kicked off the week by bringing the Travel Training program to Dunlap High School on Monday, October 19, 2026. By bringing a fixed-route bus to their school, four groups of students were able to gain a hands-on experience learning how to ride safely, board and exit, pay fares, use mobility devices, and signal the driver to stop. Thanks to Dunlap’s teachers for helping us make public transportation more accessible through real-world learning! Thank you to bus operator Aundrea for educating future riders!

Our second visit to SEAPCO on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 brought a new group of eager students ready to hop on the bus and head to the Transit Center! During the trip, Bus Operator Ike introduced students to the exciting possibilities of public transportation and demonstrated how to load a bike onto the bus’s bike rack. These hands-on experiences help students prepare to navigate the community independently as they approach graduation from the program. We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue these educational visits, helping students build confidence, gain valuable skills, and feel empowered to ride with CityLink on their own!

Thanksgiving Schedule

Community Engagement

The Marketing & Community Engagement Team kicked off the month by attending the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce’s Oktoberfest on Thursday, October 1, 2026. This was a great opportunity to connect with local businesses and showcase our transit district. One lucky raffle winner was fortunate enough to take home a new pot and pan set!

On Monday, October 5, 2026, the team joined President & CEO of the Peoria Friendship House, Marcellus Sommerville, to go on air at WPNV 106.3 FM to record their latest edition of The Forum with Garry Moore to help promote the kickoff to the 39th annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive.

The next day, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, brought the team to Cumulus Media to record this year’s PSAs with Roxy and Brian, to be shared across the airwaves of all their stations during this year’s campaign. The radio hosts will also join us on location for our kickoff and Day of Stuffing in November.

We continued the press tour on Wednesday, October 7. 2026, by stopping at 25News WEEK to speak with RaShaun Haynes on their “In The Know” segment to promote the food drive.

On the early morning of Thursday, October 8, 2026, Dr. Wilson and Marcellus spoke with Renae Skinner on WMBD. We thank WMBD for their continued partnership and support in helping us make Stuff-A-Bus a success year after year.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum’s Access for All Day on Sunday, October 11, 2026, celebrated all things transportation, connecting with the museum’s newest exhibit, Transportation Revolutions: How America Moves! CityLink attended alongside the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Bike Peoria, and Advocates for Access to share information about the many transportation and accessibility services available throughout our community.

The last media stop on the Stuff-A-Bus press tour was speaking with Greg Batton and Phil Luciano on 1470 & 100.3 WMBD Radio on Monday, October 12, 2026. This rounded out the end of our media journey as we geared up for the big event later in the week.

In the days leading up to kickoff, our team visited community partners to deliver donation bins and get the food drive rolling. Organizations like the Peoria Police Department are hosting internal food drives to help us reach our goal of collecting 15 tons of food.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, CityLink staff received a preview of Holiday Lights at the Ballpark, a new event coming to Dozer Park this year. CityLink is proud to sponsor the train that will be taking guests around to different activity stations and view the lights as the stadium is transformed into a twinkling winter wonderland! Holiday Lights will be held from November 12 – January 2nd.

CityLink Winter Coat Drive

Stuff-A-Bus Kickoff

The 39th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive to benefit the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service officially kicked off on Thursday, October 15, 2026 with a press conference at the Kroger store on Lindbergh Drive in Peoria. Representatives from CityLink, the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service, Cumulus Media, WMBD, and Kroger were on hand to kick off the annual food drive. This year, Stuff-A-Bus plans to collect 15 tons or more of food to refill their pantry.

To mark the kickoff this year, Cumulus Radio station Z92.3 joined us for a live broadcast, encouraging listeners to stop by the kickoff event and donate. Additionally, the Manual High School Drum Line, Royal Family 309 Dance Team, and the Peoria Rivermen and Peoria Chiefs’ mascot provided some extra enthusiasm to the event. Following the press conference, Peoria Police Cadets and volunteers from the Peoria Friendship House helped us start to stuff the bus with Kroger’s donations. We were thrilled that CityLink team members were present for our kickoff, and that Eric Halvorson, Manager of Public Affairs for the Central Division of Kroger, was able to join us from Indiana.

Monthly Health Tip

November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer.

But there’s also good news: Taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have overweight or obesity; are age 35 or older; have a family history of diabetes; are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander; are not physically active; or have prediabetes.

Preventing diabetes or managing diabetes as soon as possible after diagnosis may help prevent diabetes health problems. You can start by managing your diabetes ABCs.

A is for the A1C test that health care professionals use to measure your average blood glucose levels. Some people with diabetes also use devices to track their blood glucose throughout the day and night.
B is for blood pressure.
C is for cholesterol.
Ask your health care team what your ABCs goals should be.

If you have overweight or obesity, ask your primary care provider if healthy eating, physical activity, or other weight-loss treatments may help you manage your weight. You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your starting weight.