Reagan Mass Transit reports steady ridership, denied RTAP grant and plans pilot late‑night service

Greg, speaking for Reagan Mass Transit, told the Lee County board the system is on track for roughly 90,000 rides in the first six months of the fiscal year but saw a dip in the second quarter "because of the holiday segments" in November and December. He said staff will begin work within two weeks on the FY27 contract application that will shape ridership and service in the three-county area covering Lee, Ogle and parts of Winnebago County.

Greg reported the agency "had submitted a proposal" to the national Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) for a community rides grant but "we did not receive that funding." He said the proposal targeted third‑shift service for employers such as Crest Foods and other programmatic offerings outside normal operating hours and that the agency will look for other ways to expand service during nontraditional hours.

"We're gonna look at doing what I would say is a pilot project to find solutions to meeting those ridership needs after 7, 7:30 at night," he said, describing the pilot as an attempt to serve late‑shift workers.

On capital projects, Greg said plans for a secondary facility in Oregon are advancing: if the city plan commission approves or does not require review, the district will go out for bids for a general contractor, led by Larson and Darby architects and engineers of Rockford. He said the agency hopes to advertise for bids within one to two weeks and run a 30‑day bid period.

The presentation closed with an update that a seasonal holiday appeal remains open through January and that the district has received several donations.

Next steps: staff will prepare the FY27 application and pursue alternatives to the RTAP funding they did not receive. The Oregon facility will proceed to bidding if local approvals are confirmed.