 Community Action staff and board members, representatives from the
Transit Advisory Board, and Tim Lobdell, human services
transportation plan coordinator for Region 7, were present for the
meeting as the next steps for the Logan and Mason Public
Transportation program were discussed."We began working on this
transportation program in August 2007," said Angela Stoltzenburg,
Community Action executive director. "IDOT contacted rural counties
and rural board chairs about opportunities for the Section 5311
Operating Assistance Grants being expanded. Mason and Logan counties
then contacted Community Action about requesting those dollars and
filling out a grant application, and we began the process in spring
2008."
A transit partnership group was formed in 2008 to bring community
leaders together to develop the system.
Needs assessment surveys were sent out, and by the summer of 2009
nearly 1,500 surveys had been received. Of those who responded, 40
percent said they lacked transportation opportunities, 72 percent
said they would use a transportation system if one was available,
and 36 percent said they needed transportation to get to medical
appointments.
"This program will benefit everyone, not just seniors,"
Stoltzenburg said. "For Community Action, transportation fits our
mission, and we have been operating a transportation system for
seniors for over 35 years, so it makes sense for the agency to be
part of the effort."
Transportation will be available for doctor appointments,
shopping trips, rides to work and school, and for social and
entertainment purposes. The service will be open to everyone in
Logan and Mason counties to go anywhere in the coverage area. Trips
for medical appointments will also be made to Springfield and
Peoria.
Logan and Mason Public Transportation is different from a taxi
service in that trips will be available by appointment and will be
scheduled by calling 24 hours in advance.
The general public will pay a small fare; however, seniors 60 and
older will still be asked to pay a suggested donation and will not
be charged a fare, due to funding obtained by the Area Agency on
Aging for Lincolnland.
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Logan and Mason Public Transportation will use a fleet of small
vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible minivans and a sedan.
Community Action is also applying for a wheelchair-accessible bus
through IDOT's Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program.
Stoltzenburg said there are still some items requiring action
from the Logan and Mason County boards before the application is
complete.
Upon reviewing Community Action's application, Gary DeLeo, a
section chief for Rural and Small Urban Programs and the Division of
Public and Intermodal Transportation with IDOT, said: "This is very
impressive. You've done a lot of hard work. Once we get your
application ready and approved, we'll send you a contract. There are
23 federal compliance issues and lots of hoops to go through."
Community Action hopes to have Logan and Mason Public
Transportation running this winter.
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois is a
not-for-profit agency serving 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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