CityLink
CityLink is the public transit authority for the Greater Peoria, Illinois region, operating 17 fixed-route bus lines plus CityLift paratransit and CountyLink rural service, delivering over two million annual rides across a 74-square-mile service area.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersPeoria, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CityLink does
CityLink (legally Greater Peoria Mass Transit District, GPMTD) is the legislatively designated public transit authority for the Greater Peoria metropolitan area in Illinois, established in 1967. It delivers three core services: a fixed-route bus network of 17 routes operating 53 vehicles across a 74+ square-mile service area covering Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, Peoria Heights, West Peoria, and connecting neighborhoods, generating more than two million passenger trips per year; a door-to-door ADA paratransit service branded CityLift; and a rural door-to-door service branded CountyLink serving townships in Peoria County and parts of Tazewell County. These services are delivered through a mix of directly operated fixed-route service and contracted paratransit operations, with paratransit transitioning from Transdev to WeDriveU effective December 1, 2025.
The underlying technology stack is modest and largely vendor-supplied. Fleet management relies on 46 Gillig diesel buses, 4 New Flyer hybrids, and 3 Proterra electric buses. Paratransit scheduling and dispatch are handled by Ecolane's software (with iOS/Android self-service apps for eligible riders), and fixed-route passengers can track buses in real time via the Track My Bus GPS system on the CityLink website. In January 2024 the agency introduced two operator training simulators and began moving staff into a new maintenance and administrative building constructed by River City Construction.
The business model blends (i) transaction-based fare revenue — single rides ($2 CityLift, $1.50 equivalent fixed-route), $3 day passes, $40 30-day passes, and $6 one-way CountyLink tickets; (ii) recurring government subsidy from federal (FTA), Illinois state, and local tax revenues that fund the majority of operations and capital projects; and (iii) advertising revenue sold via Houck Ads across vinyl wraps and interior bus ads. Distribution is direct-to-rider through boardings at fixed stops and the downtown Transit Center hub, with digital channels (mobile app and real-time tracking) supporting paratransit and fixed-route ridership. Reported customer segments are dominated by the general public, persons with disabilities (ADA-eligible), seniors, rural/county residents, and families accessing Head Start childcare co-located at the Transit Center since January 2024.
CityLink firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CityLink
- Legal name
- Greater Peoria Mass Transit District
- Website
- https://ridecitylink.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CityLink is the public transit authority for the Greater Peoria, Illinois region, operating 17 fixed-route bus lines plus CityLift paratransit and CountyLink rural service, delivering over two million annual rides across a 74-square-mile service area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CityLink industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door) (TLAFAJAB), Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI), Campus Shuttle & Fixed-Route Transit Services (EDALAKAC)
Keywords
Where CityLink is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Peoria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CityLink business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Public Transit Fares: CityLink generates revenue through fare collection from passengers using fixed-route bus service, paratransit (CityLift), and rural transportation (CountyLink) services. Fares vary by service type.
- Government Funding: As a public transit district (GPMTD), receives federal and state transportation funding to support operations and capital projects
- Bus Advertising: Revenue generated through advertising on buses, including vinyl wraps and interior advertising. Ads rotate across 17 routes enabling broad visibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route Single Ride |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route Day Pass |
| Subscription | Monthly | Fixed Route 30-Day Pass |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CityLift Paratransit Single Ride |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CountyLink Rural Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Washington CityLift Service |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
CityLink product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CityLink is a public transit authority operating fixed-route bus service on 17 routes across the Greater Peoria region using 53 vehicles, ADA paratransit door-to-door service (CityLift) for eligible individuals with disabilities, and rural transportation (CountyLink) for residents outside city limits. The service delivers over 2 million rides annually across a 74+ square mile area and is supported by real-time bus tracking, mobile scheduling apps, fare passes, and reduced-fare programs.
Product overview
CityLink is the public transportation provider for Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD), operating a multi-service portfolio consisting of CityLink fixed route bus service (17 routes, 53 vehicles, over 2 million annual rides), CityLift paratransit service (door-to-door ADA-accessible transportation), and CountyLink rural transportation (service for rural areas outside city limits). Additional offerings include the Transit Center facility, real-time bus tracking, bus passes and tickets, and the Benefit Access program for qualified individuals. The organization also operates a new maintenance/administrative building (Phase B construction) with bus operator training simulators.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CityLift: Paratransit service providing shared ride, door-to-door transportation for eligible individuals who cannot use fixed-route bus service due to disability or other limitations.
- CountyLink
Products and services
- CityLink Fixed Route Bus Service
- CityLift Paratransit Service
- CountyLink Rural Transportation
- Washington CityLift Service
- Benefit Access Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 2+ million rides provided annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CityLink
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CityLink technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
CityLink partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- WeDriveUcoreWeDriveU was selected to operate paratransit services (CityLift and CountyLink) for Greater Peoria Mass Transit District effective December 1, 2025. The transition ensures smooth service with minimal interruption, utilizing current routing/dispatch software and maintaining unchanged service information from GPMTD's Paratransit Riders Guide.
- PCCEO Head StartcorePCCEO Head Start partnered with CityLink to open a new childcare center next to the CityLink Transit Center at 415 SW Adams Street. The center serves children from birth to five years and provides parents with easy access to CityLink fixed route bus service. This is Head Start's 7th location serving 330+ children.
- KrogercoreLong-standing partnership with Kroger for the annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive. Kroger donates food and serves as collection point at multiple store locations in Peoria, East Peoria, and Pekin. Kroger donated two pallets of food valued at $2,400 for the 38th annual drive.
- Peoria Friendship House of Christian ServicecorePrimary beneficiary of annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive. Established in 1951, provides food, medical assistance, youth education, adult education, employment preparation, and finance coaching. Food pantry provides 150,000 meals annually. CityLink has partnered for 38 years.
- Peoria Riverfront MuseumsecondaryFree admission partnership offering CityLink, CityLift, CountyLink, and Benefit Access passengers free entry to the museum when showing bus passes/tickets. Partnership active in April and December.
- Peoria ZoosecondaryFree admission partnership during August offering CityLink, CityLift, and CountyLink passengers free general entry to the zoo when presenting bus passes/tickets.
- Peoria PlayHouse Children's MuseumsecondaryFree admission partnership during June for CityLink, CityLift, CountyLink, and Benefit Access passengers presenting bus passes/tickets.
- Caterpillar Visitors CentersecondaryFree entry opportunity partnership for CityLink passengers in October. Partnership promotes public transit use to reach the attraction.
- River City ConstructioncoreGeneral contractor for CityLink's new maintenance and administrative building construction project (Phase B/C/D). Project groundbreaking was May 2022, with move-in planned for 2024. Construction reached 77.73% completion by January 2024.
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local #416coreLong-time participating sponsor of Stuff-A-Bus food drive. Union represents transit workers and supports community initiatives.
- Solvera HealthsecondaryJoint initiative partnership producing commercials showcasing CityLink buses with Solvera Health wraps. Includes community competition for residents to spot wrapped buses and win free CityLink passes.
- Adams OutdoorssecondaryAdvertising partner hosting CityLink representatives at Peoria Chiefs baseball games. Partnership includes community engagement and sponsor relationships.
- Bradley UniversityminorConstruction management students from Bradley University visited CityLink construction site on January 31 and February 2 for educational site visits, taught by River City Construction staff.
- TransdevcorePrevious management and operations partner for CityLift and CountyLink paratransit services prior to WeDriveU transition in December 2025. Transdev continues to be referenced in historical context and DBE programs.
- Houck AdssecondaryBus advertising sales partner managing vinyl wraps and interior advertising on CityLink fleet. Contact: Lucas Sogge, 651-747-6094, [email protected]
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CityLink competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Proterra: Electric bus manufacturer supplying 3 of CityLink's zero-emission fixed-route buses; an enabling technology vendor as CityLink progresses fleet electrification.
- Ecolane: Provider of the paratransit scheduling, dispatch, and mobile app platform (Track My Bus and Ecolane mobile app) used by CityLink; a key enabling technology vendor for similar mid-size transit paratransit programs.
- Gillig: Manufacturer of the 46 diesel buses in CityLink's fixed-route fleet and a dominant supplier to North American mid-size transit agencies; comparable as the primary vehicle supplier ecosystem participant.
Direct peers
- Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System (Connect Transit): Fixed-route bus and paratransit operator serving the Bloomington-Normal MSA in Illinois, with comparable fleet size, ADA paratransit service, and small-metro Illinois public transit authority structure.
- Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS): Central Illinois municipal transit provider delivering fixed-route and paratransit service to a similarly sized mid-size metro; directly comparable scale and governance model.
- Springfield Mass Transit District (SMTD): Illinois capital-city transit district operating fixed-route buses and paratransit across a comparable service footprint; directly comparable as an in-state public transit authority of similar size.
- Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD): Illinois municipal transit district providing fixed-route bus, ADA paratransit, and late-night service in a similar mid-size college-town metro; structurally and regulatorily analogous to GPMTD.
- Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD): Northern Illinois municipal transit authority operating fixed-route bus and paratransit service for a mid-size Rust Belt metro; directly comparable in mission, regulatory status, and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- WeDriveU: National paratransit and shuttle contractor selected to operate CityLink's CityLift and CountyLink services effective December 1, 2025; comparable as the incumbent operations partner across multiple US transit districts.
- Transdev: Global multi-modal transit operator that previously ran CityLink's paratransit services; comparable as a large incumbent contractor managing paratransit and fixed-route operations for hundreds of US transit agencies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CityLink social profiles
Digital presenceCityLink compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CityLink financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CityLink leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CityLink funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CityLink M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CityLink
What does CityLink do?
CityLink is a public transit authority operating fixed-route bus service on 17 routes across the Greater Peoria region using 53 vehicles, ADA paratransit door-to-door service (CityLift) for eligible individuals with disabilities, and rural transportation (CountyLink) for residents outside city limits. The service delivers over 2 million rides annually across a 74+ square mile area and is supported by real-time bus tracking, mobile scheduling apps, fare passes, and reduced-fare programs.
Is CityLink a public or private company?
CityLink is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CityLink founded?
CityLink was founded in 1967. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CityLink based?
CityLink is headquartered in Peoria, United States, in the North America region.
How does CityLink make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Transit Fares are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and bus Advertising.
Who are CityLink's main competitors?
Others on record are Proterra, Ecolane and Gillig. Direct peers are Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System (Connect Transit), Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS), Springfield Mass Transit District (SMTD), Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) and Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD). Broad incumbents are WeDriveU and Transdev.
Does CityLink have an API?
No public API is recorded for CityLink.
What industry is CityLink in?
CityLink's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIAHAA, ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit), with a secondary code of TLAFAJAB, On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.