The City of Evanston offers a choice of two special low-cost transportation options to Evanston seniors over the age of 65, and residents with disabilities over the age of 18 and are enrolled in the Access Evanston program.
Subsidized Taxicab Coupons
Overview:
By selecting this program, the rider is opting to use taxicab coupons in place of cash for each taxicab ride. Riders may purchase up to a certain amount of coupons per month; coupons may then be used to pay for taxicab rides within Evanston.
This program is designed for individuals who do not typically have travel needs outside of the City of Evanston and only use taxicabs when they travel, as well as those who prefer not to use a debit/credit card.
What are the costs?
Each one-way coupon purchased from the City of Evanston costs $5 to the rider. Drivers are reimbursed by the City for each validated coupon. Service area includes anywhere in the City of Evanston, with no in-between stops.
There is an additional $1 fee for each additional passenger, paid directly to cab driver.
The number of coupons that riders may purchase each month depends on their income, as assessed at time of the Access Evanston Program application:
- Group One: Program users with an income of less than $17,500/year (1-person household) may purchase up to 25 coupons per month.
- Group Two: Program users with an income between $17,501-$35,000/year (1-person household) may purchase up to 15 coupons per month.
How do I purchase coupons?
- In-person:
- Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
- Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to -5 p.m.
- By Mail:
- Mail a check to the Levy Senior Center at the address above, along with a note containing your name, address, phone number, and the number of coupons you would like to purchase. Your coupons will be mailed to you along with a receipt for the purchase.
- By Phone:
- Call the Levy Center at 847-448-8250 and submit a payment over the phone using a debit or credit card. Your coupons will be mailed to you within a week, along with a receipt.
What companies can I use?
All of the following Evanston-based cab companies accept coupons:
| American Taxi |
(847) 673-1000 |
| 303 Cab |
(847) 733-0303 |
| Norshore Cab |
(847) 864-7500 |
| Metro Cab |
(847) 662-6000 |
Need an accessible ride?
- Use your coupons on a CJE Shalom Bus!
- Call CJE at 773-508-1300 the day before your trip to schedule ride.
- Rides may be scheduled beginning at 10 a.m. with completion of service by 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lost/stolen coupons
Unfortunately, the City is not able to reimburse for lost or stolen coupons. Make sure you keep them somewhere safe, and try to purchase only the number you will need each month.
Transportation Debit Card
Overview
Riders who prefer having the option of traveling outside the City of Evanston and/or would like to utilize other modes of ground transportation are encouraged to select the debit card option.
Program participants will receive a MasterCard on which they may load up to a certain amount of their own money each month; the City will match that amount. Riders may then take any form of ground transportation going anywhere, provided that they have enough money on their card to pay for the full amount of the fare using their card. Keep in mind that half of the money on the card came from the City, so it's like splitting the bill each time!
What are the costs?
Although there is no fee associated with the card, program users will need to load at least $5 of their own money on the card at the time they pick it up in order to activate the card.
Subsidy is based on the following, as assessed at the time of application:
-
Group One: Program users with an income of less than $17,500/year (1-person household) can load up to $125. City will match the amount up to $125 for a total not to exceed $250/month.
- Group Two: Program users with income between $17,501-$35,000/year (1-person household) can load up to $75. City will match the amount up to $75 for a total not to exceed $150/month.
How do I add money to my card?
- In-person:
- Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
- Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- By Phone:
- Call the Levy Center at 847-448-8250 and submit a payment over the phone using a debit or credit card. Your balance will be updated while you are
How do I check my balance?
All cardholders are encouraged to keep track of their balance as they use the card to ensure they have adequate funds on the card before traveling. However, cardholders may call 847-448-4311 or simply dial 3-1-1 from inside the City of Evanston to check or confirm their balance during 311's regular hours of operation.
Please note, 311 staff are not able to take any payments; if you need to load funds, you will need to contact the Levy Senior Center at 847-448-8250 to submit a payment over the phone.
Lost/stolen cards
Please call the Levy Center at 847-448-8250 as soon as you notice your card has been lost or stolen. Staff will turn the card off and order you a new one right away.
- Replacement cards typically take about 7-10 days to arrive at the Levy Center; staff will contact you when the new card arrives and will activate it with your previous card value when you come pick it up.
- For security reasons, transportation debit cards must be picked up in-person by the cardholder; debit cards will not be mailed.
What transportation services can be used?
Riders can use any form of ground transportation, including but not limited to the following:
- Taxicabs;
- Ridesharing applications for smartphones such as Lyft and Uber*;
- Amtrak**;
- Greyhound**;
- Ventra passes**; and
- PACE paratransit ticket purchases.**
*When setting up the transportation card as the form of payment for one of these applications, please use 60202 as the billing zip code regardless of cardholder's actual zip code.
**Purchases made for these modes of transportation must be completed through their official website. Purchases may be declined when made at retail establishments or third-party websites.
Need an accessible ride?
- Curb Mobility manages fleets of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the Chicagoland area, some of which are operated by local cab companies. Download the app today and use your transportation debit card to pay for your accessible ride!
For more information, please contact Senior Services at 847-866-2919 or email
aging@cityofevanston.org.
