 The first step of the primer was to create a transit partnership
group. This is a growing group of volunteers working under guidance
from the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transportation
Clearinghouse. Approximately 10 new members attended the meeting.
Angela Stoltzenburg, Community Action executive director and team
leader of the transit partnership group, is hoping the next meeting
will bring even more stakeholders to ensure all voices are heard.
The group is working to recruit potential transportation riders,
transportation providers, human service agencies, medical and health
care groups, education and job training programs, government
representation, and other interested parties.
Community Action
provides senior transportation to Logan and Mason counties. The
agency is helping to facilitate the primer process as part of their
advocacy efforts for both low-income residents and seniors in
central Illinois.
"In Community Action's fight against poverty, we support efforts
that help people move themselves toward economic health," said
Stoltzenburg. "We support the five action themes developed by the
National Community Action Partnership, which includes building an
economy that works for everyone and ensuring healthy people and
places. We recognize that healthy people living in healthy places
are less costly, more productive and more engaged. They learn
better, live longer and contribute more to the world around them.
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"One strategy to ensure healthy people and places is to design
transportation systems that meet the needs of residents to reach
jobs and services, connect with other parts of the community, and
travel safety at the times they desire to do so at the lowest
possible cost. One strategy to invest in the future is to design
communities to maximize public transportation in order to build
social capital, conserve resources and reduce pollution."
The group will meet again on May 28 at 10 a.m. at the American
Legion in Mason City. The transit partnership group will begin the
second phase of the primer, which is to complete a broad-based needs
and resource assessment. Interested participants who would like more
information or transportation to the meeting should contact
Stoltzenburg by calling 217-732-2159, ext. 224.
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois serves the
low-income and senior populations of six counties in central
Illinois. For more information, visit
www.capcil.org.
[Text from file received from
Community Action Partnership of
Central Illinois]
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