Community Announcements
Coming soon: Faster, better and more accessible West Side rapid transit service
The Forest Park Branch Rebuild is a multi-year, multi-phased investment to make service along the Blue Line’s Forest Park Branch faster, safer, more reliable and accessible for riders.
Sunday, July 23 through early October
Under the first phase of work, crews will completely rebuild the track infrastructure between the Illinois Medical District (IMD) and LaSalle stations – removing 15,000 feet or almost three miles of slow zones; demolish and rebuild the entire Racine station to meet modern accessibility guidelines; and upgrade the traction power system for improved service reliability.
To help reduce the impacts on riders, and to efficiently carry-out project work, Phase 1 work will be performed two parts. To Learn more click here
A three-year construction project along the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago just started--and that means added congestion for the region’s commuters. Pace Bus offers suburban commuters several options to bypass that traffic and use public transportation to get to/from Chicago. Plus, using public transportation saves you money compared to the costs of fuel, parking, and tolls.
Thanks to Pace’s ability to use the shoulder to operate Expressway-Based Service on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and Edens Expressway (I-94), buses bypass traffic to provide reliable, affordable service to and from the CTA Blue, Yellow, Purple, and Red Lines and many Metra stations. Pace encourages commuters to check out these options using the Trip Planner or by calling the RTA's Travel Information Center at 847-836-7000. For smartphone users on the go, Pace has partnered with the Transit app and it is Pace's recommended tool for trip planning.
Traveling across the region is now even easier thanks to new pass and fare products that save money and make transferring between services quick and convenient. The Regional Connect Pass provides Metra Monthly Pass holders unlimited rides all month on CTA and Pace with no day or time restrictions. Many Pace routes connect with the UP-NW Line, MD-N Line, and NCS Line. The Regional Connect Pass can be purchased from Metra ticket agents or in the Ventra app.
Pace and the CTA have also made it even more convenient to transfer between services with new and less expensive pass products. Many Pace services connect to the CTA Blue Line at Rosemont, Cumberland, Harlem, and Jefferson Park. For those who enjoy the convenience and affordability of unlimited ride passes, a new Pace/CTA 1-Day Pass for $5 and a new Pace/CTA 3-Day Pass for $15 are now available. Additionally, the Pace/CTA 7-Day Pass is now only $20. All of these passes offer unlimited rides on Pace and CTA buses and trains. Existing 30-Day Passes are also still available.
For those who pay for rides using a Ventra account, transfers from one Pace bus to another Pace bus are now free! To take advantage of free transfers, passengers must use a Ventra Card or Ventra-linked smart device and the second or additional rides must occur within two hours of the first ride.
With the launch of its Smart Assistance Manager (SAM), ComEd has made it easier for families and individuals to access customized financial- assistance options, as well as programs to help them manage their electric bills.
SAM is an online self-service tool for all residential customers that finds and displays support options based on their household information, such as energy usage and billing history. Customers who create an online account with ComEd through the “My Account” tool can log in while using SAM to get even more personalized, targeted results.
“Previously, customers may have had to search for information to enroll in energy- assistance programs,” said Nichole Owens, ComEd’s vice president of customer channels. “With ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager, customers can access the website – anywhere and on their own time – and be guided to the options best suited for them. What’s better, they will also be connected to the people and forms so they can get assistance as soon as possible to take advantage of them.”
SAM matches customers with the payment-assistance programs for which they may eligible
– including deferred-payment arrangements, the Percent of Income Payment Plan assistance program (PIPP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – then provides guidance and links to apply.
SAM also provides recommendations on energy-efficiency offerings that can save customers money and energy, including free home energy assessments and discounts on energy-saving products.
Customers interested in accessing this free tool can visit ComEd.com/SAM.
Enhanced Bill-Assistance Options
ComEd also reminds customers about recent changes to payment features to further support customers struggling to pay their electric bills. Eligible, low-income residential customers will no longer be assessed late payment fees or deposits, and any deposits already provided to ComEd will be returned.
The company no longer assesses additional fees for any customers when they use a credit card, debit card, or electronic check to pay their ComEd bills. And, to offer more convenience, all customers can pay their ComEd bill with PayPal. More information on each of these options is available at ComEd.com/Pay.
ComEd LIHEAP
October 21, 2021
To help eligible customers stay current on their bills, and help them avoid unnecessary fees come spring, ComEd regularly works with state and federal agencies to provide assistance options to those facing financial hardship.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that can help you stay warm in during winter by providing eligible customers with a one-time payment towards your energy bills. Benefits are available once per program year, September 2021 through May 2022, or until funds are exhausted. Whether you rent or own your home, LIHEAP offers financial help to limited-income households to pay heat and electric bills.
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is a choice within Illinois LIHEAP to help manage energy bills year-round. You will be placed on a Budget Billing plan that is subsidized by a monthly PIPP benefit amount, determined by a percentage of your household income. Each month, you receive a PIPP benefit towards a portion of your Budget Bill amount. If an on-time and in-full payment is received, you may also receive a monthly arrearage credit, if applicable.
Applications for LIHEAP and PIPP can be submitted online, by phone or in person and are available at your Local Administering Agency. Visit LIHEAPillinois.com for details. Prefer to call instead? Residents of Chicago and Cook County can call 800-571-2332 for information. Residents of other counties may call 877-411-9276.
PIPP funds available now!
Stay current on your ComEd bill with help from state-funded PIPP. Apply now through March 31, 2022. Open to eligible customers on a first-come first-served basis while funds are available. We’re here to help when you need it most. Apply today.
LIHEAP helps with your ComEd bill.
Federal-funded LIHEAP helps eligible customers pay their energy bills. Applications being taken now through May 31, 2022. Funds are awarded on a first-come first-served basis while available. We’re here to help when you need it most. Apply today.
Are you in need of dementia and Alzheimer’s care homes for your elderly parents or family members? If so, then you have come to the right place for information. If you are trying to find a memory care facility, then this is probably your first time having to do so. Well, you are not alone, and we are here to help you out by giving you as much information as possible.
Dealing with a loved one who is struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be a difficult thing for a family to have to do, however, finding and paying for a facility where your loved one can get the care they need, doesn’t have to be. In Illinois, there are a lot of great options that allow you to place your family member in an exceptional home so that they get the specialized memory care that they deserve.
