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McHenry County reports modest ridership gains, early uptake of accessible contractor for MC Ride Connect
Summary
County staff reported 23,587 MC Ride trips for the three most recent months in the packet and described MC Ride Connect usage, including overlaps between the two programs and early use of an accessible contractor (Userv).
McHenry County staff presented program updates on MC Ride and the newer MC Ride Connect during the Public Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, reporting modest ridership growth, continued program overlap, and early adoption of an accessible contractor option.
Staff reported 23,587 MC Ride trips in the three months presented (August–October), an increase of roughly 350 trips over the same period a year earlier. Staff said the count represented about 1,205 unique riders during that period and offered to provide additional origin‑destination and unduplication analysis on request.
On MC Ride Connect, staff reviewed June and July monthly tallies included in the packet and said August data arrived after the packet was published. Reported details included average trip distances between 7 and 8 miles, a July increase in average distance from 7.01 to 7.51 miles, and a subsidy per trip that remains below $13. Staff also said the county had its first three rides through Userv in July; Userv is an accessible‑vehicle contractor available under the county’s subsidy program to provide vehicles better suited for riders with mobility needs.
Staff told the committee there are two types of rider overlap: 26 individuals had used both MC Ride and MC Ride Connect in the past year, while 34 riders had shifted from MC Ride to Connect since Connect’s launch. Committee members requested staff return with further analysis of one‑way trips versus round trips, a percentage breakdown of repeat riders, and unduplicated rider counts for MC Ride to support planning and budgeting.
The committee also discussed a possible renaming of MC Ride Connect to reduce public confusion with MC Ride. Staff reported that, in practice, frontline staff have been using the shorter name "Connect" in outreach and informal conversations and that members generally favored retaining a recognizable, simple label rather than a wholesale rebrand. No formal name change was adopted at the meeting; staff said they would pursue a formal naming process with the county when appropriate.
County staff emphasized the availability of additional reports and said they would include more consistent three‑month rolling updates in future packets.
