June Spotlight Member of the Month

Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD) a.k.a. CityLink

2105 NE Jefferson, Peoria (Administration Bldg.)

407 SW Adams, Peoria (Transit Center)

Rick Tieken - Assistant General Manager

Phone:  309l.679.8189; Fax:  309.740.4288; Website:  www.ridecitylink.org

Description of business:  CityLink is a Municipal Corporation which specializes in public transportation by bus for citizens of Peoria, West Peoria, Peoria Heights, East Peoria, Sunnyland, Creve Coeur, Pekin and Bartonville. 

What is unique about your operation?  CityLink provides the only public transportation system in the Greater Peoria area. They have 23 fixed routes which travel on a scheduled regular basis in the area beginning at 5:30 a.m. with some selected routes running until 1:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.  Buses also run on Saturday with modified times.  CityLink also provides ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) service to people in the same geographical area that CityLink serves.  The name of this service is CityLift.  ADA service is scheduled a day in advance to qualified people.  They are picked up at their door and taken to their medical appointments or other needs.

What recent news about your business would you like to share?  CityLink recently received 31 paratransit CityLift TurtleTop vans from Southern Bus and Mobility.  The money to purchase 20 of the vans were 100% funded through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act.  The remaining 11 were purchased with grants and state and local funding.  From the same sources, CityLink is also in the process of purchasing twenty-one 35 foot low-floor transit coaches from Gillig Corporation.  One hundred percent of the cost of two hybrid less than 30 foot buses will arrive this fall funded from a Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction grant.  CityLink has been in dire need to purchase buses and everyone is excited to know that there are new vehicles already and more to come. 

To what you attribute your success?

• The Greater Peoria Mass Transit Board has allowed new ideas to develop for the good of the organization.
• The dedicated employees and their commitment to treat each other and the passengers with respect.  They receive many compliments throughout the year concerning their staff.  Thirteen of their current employees have worked there over 30 years!
• There was a new experienced management team chosen from First Transit beginning in 2007.  That experience has been effective implementing plans.

How long in business:  The district is celebrating 40 years this year!  The first Board of Directors formed the GPMTD on May 4, 1970.  The district consisted of the Village of Peoria Heights, West Peoria Township and city of Peoria.  A referendum passed which allocated 5 mil. tax for the transportation district.  With a grant, the federal government issued to GPMTD funds to purchase 33 new buses.  The same year GMPTD began contracting with the East Peoria Mass Transit District to provide bus service.

The first year GPMTD provided 667,142 passenger rides.  In the 2009 fiscal year over three million rides were given!

Number of employees:   CityLink employees 164 full and part-time employees (plus three people from First Transit, the managing company).