 Rides will be available by calling in advance for an appointment,
with trips to out-of-town destinations scheduled a couple of days a
week and emergency trips handled on request. Riders are anticipated
to make use of the system for medical appointments, shopping,
employment, social and entertainment purposes.
The federally subsidized program shared by Logan and Mason
counties will be administered under the auspices of Community Action
Partnership of Central Illinois. Community Action has had a senior
transportation system in place for over 35 years, which made a
natural fit for the agency to get involved now, according to Angela
Stoltzenburg, executive director.
Mark Graue has been hired as assistant transportation director.
He will be working under Angie Jenkins, transportation director.
Jenkins is employed by Community Action and has been working on this
project for years.
O'Neill said everything is coming together very nicely for the
startup. He presented a proposed
fee schedule and
logo
for the board to review and asked for feedback.
Hours of availability would be Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4
p.m.
The drivers will be scheduled based upon the needs in the
community.
The system will keep documentation of demands, and as the needs
become more apparent, the hours could possibly be expanded.
In the future, the system plans to meet with local organizations
that could benefit from the services and set up potential service
contracts to meet the needs of individuals who are without vehicle
transportation.
The system will provide service for a fee to the public, and the
rides for seniors will remain by a suggested donation
[to top of second column] |
Six vehicles are set to go now, with the possibility of more next
year. The vehicles just need to be affixed with the logo.
The public transportation advisory board of the Illinois
Department of Transportation estimates 35,000 to 65,000 rides the
first year of the Logan and Mason County system.
The $130,000-a-year grant-funded program offers a new form of
low-cost transportation that has not been available previously.
Funding for the public transportation system is facilitated through
the Rural and Small Urban Programs and the Division of Public and
Intermodal Transportation with IDOT and is subsidized by federal
grant money.
Watch LDN for further details and announcements of times and
fees.
___
Logan Mason Public
Transportation logo
Proposed fare schedule
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related article
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