The Regional Transportation Authority met on Monday to vote the implementation of the legislation that includes the plan of giving free rides to senior citizens in the Chicago’s area.

On March 17 the free rides will begin, when Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace will let people 65 and older to ride for free in buses and trains. In order for them to do that they will need to have a valid photo ID card made by the RTA, according to authorities.

This program will be adapted from the current program of RTA of reduced-fare programs for seniors. This permits residents to travel mass transit with half-fare.

For seniors who don’t have a card they can apply for one at 200 sites.

Those who are not living in the RTA coverage area can not apply for the program, Chicago Tribune informs.

The area that the program works includes McHenry, Lake, Kane, Cook, DuPage and Will Counties.

The expenses will be supported by transit agencies which are thought of absorbing $30 million a year cost.

RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman said that the figure is conservative and “manageable.”

It still unknown the number of seniors that will take advantage of the program. According to census figures, almost 870,000 seniors are in the metropolitan area and the RTA issued so far almost 239,000 cards.

The program was suggested by General Assembly and Gov. Rod Blagojevich who pushed it through January 17 as part of legislation that puts up the $530 million as the fund for the mass-transit.

The process of registration will take three to four weeks, according to RTA.

Senior citizens will have to present their card to the bus driver, ticket agent or train conductor. It can be used also as a turnstile or in a fare box.

Due to the photo on the ID the use of the card can be monitored by the conductors, drivers and ticket agents and cannot be misused.