Passenger Link – October 2026

Retirement Celebration

We celebrated the retirement of Donnie on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 after seven years of service. We are deeply grateful for your years of hard work and dedication to serving our community. We wish you all the best in your exciting new adventures ahead!

Labor Day Parade

Members of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 416 proudly participated in the annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 7, 2026, in West Peoria, representing all three areas of our organization. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped us celebrate the hard work and dedication of our transit workforce!

Community Engagement

On the cloudy morning of Thursday, September 17, 2026, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team coordinated the filming of our annual PSA commercial for the upcoming 39th annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive! The Peoria Friendship House and WMBD
News anchors Renae Skinner and Patrick Cunningham participated in the filming, helping spread the word about this important community initiative. These ads will start running very soon, so keep a lookout for them while flipping through the channels.

On Friday, September 18, 2026, the HR Team participated in the Illinois Central College Agriculture, Horticulture and Diesel Showcase. This event showed students the possibility of a career in transportation and allowed students to get up close to one of
our diesel-powered buses.

On Tuesday, September 21, 2026, the Marketing & Community Engagement Team participated in the Peoria Public Schools Transitional Evening at Glen Barton School. Over 30 other local agencies showed up with helpful information and resources for
students and families with special needs.

Stuff-A-Bus

Mental Health Awareness Month

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Mental Illness Awareness Week is observed this year from October 4—10, with World Mental Health Day being observed on October 10. Although we’ve come a long way in recent years to better prioritize our mental health, it wasn’t that long ago that these days became nationally recognized.

In 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health, led by Richard Hunter, the deputy secretary-general, created World Mental Health Day. There wasn’t a clear objective for the day other than to advocate for mental health as a whole. There was a struggle to get people on board, gather funding, and provide the proper education to the masses to start seeing an improvement. It wasn’t until 1994 that the first theme emerged, strengthening their efforts with the goal of ‘improving the quality of mental health services throughout the world’. This launched their efforts onto a global stage, giving rise to more conferences about the subject and community celebrations being held to help. From 1996 to the present, the overall awareness of mental health has continued to grow and has become more largely accepted and less stig-matized.

Surrounding World Mental Health Day is Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is always celebrated the first week of October. Mental Illness Awareness Week is run in collaboration with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (N.A.M.I). The objectives aim to combat discrimination against mental illnesses and offer support during this week’s awareness initiatives. This has become a dedicated time for mental health ad-vocates across the country to come together as one unified voice. During this specific week, events are held to promote community outreach and public education concerning mental illnesses.

Therefore, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. There are many things that we can do every day to help create a better environment that supports positive mental health and breaks down any stigmatisms that we hold.

•Use respectful language to talk about mental health conditions.
•Challenge misconceptions when you see or hear them with correct information.
•See the person, not the condition.
•Offer support if you think someone is struggling with their mental health.
•Knowing the resources available to better assist someone is just as important and valuable asoffering to be there.

For more mental health resources, you can contact our local partners at Marathon Health, or the National Alliance of Mental Health, which is in collaboration with Tri-County Illinois, to receive the support that you or others may need.

Free Opportunity – Caterpillar Visitors Center

CityLink and the Doug Oberhelman Caterpillar Visitors Center are partnering for the month of October 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 visitors center admission desk to gain free general entry to the Caterpillar Visitors Center and its exhibits. One bus pass/ticket is required per adult, and children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

“The Caterpillar Visitors Center is not only a great source of family entertainment for our community, but also a place where our youngest can dream big and see themselves as a future Cat equipment operator or engineer. We pride ourselves on being an accessible resource for the people of Peoria, and this community partnership with CityLink is another great way to accomplish that.”
~ Henry Vicary, Director, Caterpillar Guest and Community Relations

The Caterpillar Visitors Center is located at 110 SW Washington Street, Peoria, IL 61602. It is a short five-minute walk from the CityLink Transit Center, located at 407 SW Adams.

Current admission prices for the Caterpillar Visitors Center are $7.00 for general admission, $6.00 for seniors aged 55+, veterans and active military. Children aged 12 and under are free (limit of 4 children per 1 adult ticket). The Caterpillar Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 3:30 p.m. For information on the visitors center, please call 309-675-0606 or go to visitcaterpillar.com.

Monthly Health Tips

October brings a shift in seasons: cooler air, changing leaves, earlier sunsets – and with those changes come unique opportunities (and challenges) for our health and wellbeing. October is recognized as both Emotional Wellness Month and Health Literacy Month, making it an ideal moment to revisit our health habits, pause and reflect, and build routines that support body and mind.

Embrace Nature & Outdoor Movement
Fall’s crisp air and vibrant leaves make outdoor activity more inviting. Autumn is the best time to get outside, walk, rake leaves, visit a pumpkin patch, or simply head out for a nature stroll.

Prioritize Emotional Check-Ins
With less daylight and busier rhythms (holiday season creeps closer each day), emotional wellness deserves attention. Choose one day each week for a 10-minute check-in. Ask yourself: How did I feel this week? What drained me? What lifted me up? Write it down in a journal – tracking mood patterns can reveal useful insights.

Build a Fall Nutrition Boost
The shift to cooler weather often means immune-system support is more important. Fall produce offers plenty of colorful, nutrient-rich options. Add one serving of seasonal vegetables, like squash, kale or leeks, to your plate each dinner. Stay hydrated and keep
meals balanced with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Set a Sleep & Screen Routine
Shorter daylight hours and cooler evenings can disrupt our circadian rhythm. Creating a consistent wind-down routine helps regulate sleep quality, which in turn supports mood, immunity, and overall wellness.

Expand your Health Literacy & Self-Care
October is Health Literacy Month – an excellent reminder that understanding our health and being informed are key to better outcomes. Review when you last had preventive screenings. Ask your healthcare provider “what’s next for me?” Read one
credible health article.