[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING CITYLINK ON 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AARON SCHOCK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. SCHOCK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary 
of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District, also known as Citylink.
  The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District was first formed on May 4, 
1970 to provide public transportation to the Village of Peoria Heights, 
West Peoria Township and the City of Peoria.
  In its first year of operation over 667,000 passengers rode the 
Citylink system. Since that time the Greater Peoria Mass Transit 
District has expanded its area of operations to include East Peoria, 
Pekin and Bartonville. With this expanded area of service the transit 
district was able to provide over 3,000,000 bus rides to passengers 
this past year.
  During its 40 years of service to the Greater Peoria area, innovation 
has been key to the success of the transit district. Citylink was the 
first transit system in the country to take advantage of local 
commodities by implementing ethanol-fueled buses into its fleet. A 
relationship with the Peoria Historical Society was also established in 
order to bring trolley-buses into the district's fleet. These trolleys 
were obtained in order to provide for historical tours of the area with 
the guide of local Peoria Historical Society Members.
  Catering to the needs of its passengers has been another key to the 
success of the transit district. Citylink has extended early morning 
and late night routes in order to help those passengers with work 
shifts starting early or ending late in the night. Along with these 
hours of extended service, special fares were established to help 
seniors, students and passengers who may be physically or mentally 
challenged. In fact, over 118,000 trips were given to paratransit 
riders during this past year alone.
  I wish to congratulate and thank the Greater Peoria Mass Transit 
District and all the staff members who have provided stellar service to 
the entire Peoria area over the past 40 years. It is my honor this day 
to congratulate them, 40 years after their inception.

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