In 2008 then-Governor Rod Blagojevich said he wouldn't increase the sales tax to benefit mass transit unless seniors could ride free on the CTA, Metra, and Pace.
There were 37.5 million free senior rides on the CTA in the first half of this year. That's an increase of 2.5 million over the first half of last year.
The transit agencies say the free rides cost them tens of millions of dollars annually.