Regional Transportation Authority

The RTA is conducting an audit of the Seniors Ride Free Program to determine if cards were being used fraudulently. One aspect of the audit has been completed that analyzed cards that were used after the cardholder had been deceased. All of these cards have been deactivated.  Other elements of the audit are still underway.

About the study:

• Currently, approximately 400,000 names are in the RTA free fare database
• Identified a sample of 3,142 Seniors Ride Free cardholders that had died within the past year using Social Security Death Index
• Determined a statistically significant sample size by UIC

While only a small sample of all seniors registered in the RTA free fare database were studied, the RTA found 5.2 percent of the cards were used after the cardholder had died.

Key findings:

• 5.2% (164) cards were used following date of death
• Represents 25,409 total rides
• Usage ranges from 1 to 1,411 rides per card
• Fraudulent rides represent an average of 155 rides per card
• Median usage: 40 rides per card
• 5.2% of the 400,000 names in the RTA free fare database would represent approximately 20,800 cards

Key criteria for the study:

• Fraudulent rides represent cardholders whose death ranged from one month to 12 months ago
• Only measured utilization of the card on either the CTA or Pace
• Could not determine usage on Metra because it is not on an electronic fare card collection system
• Assumes there may be other cards not included in the sample used in the same manner

The RTA will work with other public agencies to establish and implement an automated program that would prevent the unauthorized use of cards in the future.

Next steps:

• Establish an automated review to be done on a periodic basis
• Establish partnerships with Social Security Administration or other public entity that retains death records
• Match Seniors Ride Free database against official death records
• Complete other aspects of the audit