Macomb council approves transit pacts with township and Western Illinois University

The City of Macomb approved a pair of transit agreements on first and final consideration Tuesday night that officials said will expand rides for township residents and Western Illinois University students.

Transit director Lisa Petrino told the council the township agreement is a local‑match contract costing $2,200.08 a year and will “allow township to have a driver dedicated to them on the scheduled days clients need to be present in office.” The council moved and adopted the township contract on roll call.

Separately, council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Western Illinois University to provide fixed‑route service for faculty, staff and students. Petrino said the university will remit an amount equal to 90% of transit fees it collects from students or $85,000 per quarter, whichever is greater, and that the agreement will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The city attorney said the agreement is authorized under the Illinois Intergovernmental Cooperation Act; the council voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the contract, with one member recorded as recused.

Both agreements were presented as routine intergovernmental arrangements to expand transit access; Petrino said the township contract will include a dedicated Demand Response driver and the WIU pact formalizes a fixed‑route service between campus and student residences. The council recorded roll‑call votes on both motions and carried each measure.

The agreements now move to implementation by the transit department; staff did not provide a date for the dedicated township service to begin.