Reagan Mass Transit District to begin contracted Winnebago County service July 1; studies and fundraiser planned

Greg, a Reagan Mass Transit District representative, told a Lee County committee that the district will start contracted service in western Winnebago County on July 1 and is preparing vehicles and outreach for the launch.

Greg said ridership is "we're trending to be around 91, 90 2000 rides for the current fiscal year," service hours are "around 29,000," and miles of service are about "759,000." He also reported that the district's fuel-cost estimate is "about $30,000 less than what we had projected." The district has negotiated and signed a service contract with Winnebago County and is procuring three vehicles for the new service area.

The report noted two studies now under way: an approximately 18-month hydrogen-fuel feasibility study in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Transit Desert study with Northern Illinois University's Center for Governmental Studies. Greg said NIU has moved into a phase of public outreach, planning focus groups targeting seniors, veterans and other identified populations with about six to 10 participants each. The Transit Desert work will include focus groups in Lee and Ogle counties, the district said.

Greg said the district relies on the downstate operating assistance program for the largest portion of state support and that the program provides "65% of the cost" while the district must cover the remaining 35% locally. To help fill local funding gaps, he said the district is holding its first golf fundraiser on June 19 at Lost Nation Golf Course and distributed brochures inviting registration.

No formal committee action was recorded on the transit report. Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the report.