McHenry County Public Transportation Advisory Committee met Nov. 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. YOU CAN JOIN THIS MEETING LIVE VIA TEAMS AT:
https://mchenrycountyil.webex.com/mchenrycountyil/j.php?MTID=m1dbbdf862ae90ed39249415e611fe89 9
II. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at: 2:00 PM by .
PRESENT: Donner, Peschke, Martin, Riley, Dalton, Veit, Schrempf, Hankins, Helm, Wolf ABSENT: Van Landuyt, Mullard, Rea, Ritzert, Klasen, Mack, Brooks, Adams, Lesperance, Nelson, Mach, Kearns, Farley, Armour, Peters, Dercole, Blakemore, Schnable, Brokaw, Maurstad, Danitz, Ruth, Dilsaver, Prince, Burns, Kunz, Thomas, Hain, Wagner, Berggren, Austin, Adamson, Hammonds, Soderholm, Bechler, Strissel, Daucher, Braune, Fotland, Coss, Tiedt
B. Introductions
III. MINUTES APPROVAL
1. Public Transportation Advisory Committee (PTAC) - Public Meeting - Aug 5, 2021 2:00 PM
| RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Donner, Peschke, Martin, Van Landuyt, Mullard, Rea, Ritzert, Klasen, Mack, Riley, Brooks, Dalton, Veit, Adams, Lesperance, Nelson, Mach, Kearns, Farley, Schrempf, Armour, Peters, Dercole, Blakemore, Schnable, Brokaw, Hankins, Helm, Wolf, Maurstad, Danitz, Ruth, Dilsaver, Prince, Burns, Kunz, Thomas, Hain, Wagner, Berggren, Austin, Adamson, Hammonds, Soderholm, Bechler, Strissel, Daucher, Braune, Fotland, Coss, Tiedt |
V. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
1. Via Transportation Presentation
Staff from Via gave a comprehensive presentation on their services and how it’s been implemented in similar communities.
Via is a transportation services technology provider primarily focused on delivering on-demand and prescheduled shared rides, optimizing fixed routes, and providing multimodal and intermodal transit technology. Via's algorithm matches multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them into a single vehicle. Shared rides are usually from corner-to-corner to streamline vehicle routes, requiring passengers to walk to a nearby pickup point, indicated on the app. Select cities also offer private rides, as well as direct door-to-door transportation.
Via primarily operates in partnership with a local transit authority, government entity, university, school district, taxi fleet or private organization. Via licenses its ride-sharing technology through Software as a Service (SaaS) and Transportation as a Service (TaaS) agreements.
| RESULT: PRESENTATION |
VII.OLD BUSINESS
A. MCRide Program Update
Ryan Peterson presented on the recent updates of the MCRide program and MCDOT programs/projects. McHenry County has begun or will begin shortly the planning process on three important planning documents: County Bike Plan (McHenry County Connection), MCDOT Long Range Transportation Plan (McHenry County Moves), and the County's Comprehensive Plan. Staff suggests staying up-to-date on the planning efforts and take part in the public meetings to give meaningful input. These plans will guide many of the projects throughout the County.
MCDOT is currently hiring a Public Information Officer and Planning Liaison, as well as several Engineering positions
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
MCDOT and MCC have recently created a strategic partnership to help alleviate the financial burden and stresses of finding convenient and cost-effective transportation for college students. As of October 1, 2021, all active credit and non-credit (career training, ESL, and GED) McHenry County College students will have access to free rides on the MCRide dial-a-ride service. This valuable partnership will provide thousands of students with access to a convenient, safe, and efficient public transit option at no cost.
Only trips to and from MCC’s Crystal Lake campus will be eligible for these free trips. When entering the bus, students will be required to show their Student ID to the driver. This partnership between McHenry County College and the McHenry County Division of Transportation began after outreach from MCC’s Student Affairs Division to learn more about potential options for their students. A grant awarded to MCC will facilitate the funding for this new student transportation amenity.
As of October 22, 123 trips were taken by MCC students through the program. Staff expects this ridership figure to increase to more than 250 trips per month as marketing of the program continues. A similar program will begin in January 2022 with Project Search, a job training program based in Woodstock for individuals with disabilities.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
1. Discussion on Fare Card Policies
Ryan Peterson presented and took potential comments on the alteration of the current policies surrounding the cost of MCRide fares and the ability of individuals to purchase fare cards.
Staff has been receiving recommendations from MCRide users about the possibility of changing the policies of MCRide Fare Cards. MCRide users and family members of active riders have provided various suggestions on how to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the fare card program. Staff has proposed several policy recommendations, which are listed below.
Scenario 1: Open to the Public
Currently, only non-profits and government agencies can purchase fare cards. Those who do not have an affiliation to a non-profit and/or their local governmental entity is not able to purchase the cards, are unable to gain access to these cards. Many riders do not have the ability to carry money on the bus, making it difficult for them MCRide.
This scenario would retract the restrictions for which entities can purchase fare cards and instead allow for all to purchase fare cards.
Scenario 2: Price Reduction for Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities
In the current fare structure, all fare cards are available for purchase at $3.00. Initially, Fare Cards were offered as another payment option instead of cash. For senior citizens and individuals with disabilities riding utilizing fare cards, they are often overpaying for their trips due to their reduced base fare rate of $1.50 for a trip; a trip for these demographics would have to exceed 11 miles to reach the $3.00 fare rate.
This scenario would propose a fare reduction of fare cards for individuals with disabilities and senior purchasing them and/or being purchased on their behalf.
Scenario 3: Price Reduction for All
This scenario, similar to Scenario 2, but a price reduction for all those purchasing the cards.
Scenario 4: Open to the Public & Price Reduction
This scenario is a combination of policy changes from previous scenarios. Essentially, the cards could be purchased by anyone and the price would be reduced for everyone.
Scenario 5: No Change
If no suitable option can be found, staff will continue with the same policies and fare structure, while continuing to listen to suggestions for improvements.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
Ryan Peterson presented on the recent National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration on October 1st. The event was held at the County Administration Building, with five speakers speaking on the importance of becoming more disability-friendly and the impact of MCRide:
1. Carolyn Schofield, McHenry County Board
2. Kris Klemme, Clearbrook resident
3. Hamilton Hale, Pioneer Center
4. Michael Vandekreke, RTA
5. Maggie Daly Skogsbakken, Pace Suburban Bus
The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Held annually, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year.
The event also served as a celebration for the expansion of McHenry County’s MCRide Dial-a-Ride program, which expanded to offer service county-wide earlier this year, becoming the first program to do so in the Chicagoland region. With its expansion, thousands of residents gained access to the program, allowing for greater access to employment opportunities and increased mobility.
In future years, the County is hoping to create more programming to celebrate the event and promote the necessity for more disability-friendly communities. To learn more about NDEAM, visit the national site <https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam>. A video of the event can be found on the County’s YouTube page.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
Jon Paul Diipla presented on the updates to MCDOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the guiding document for planning efforts moving forward. The 2050 LRTP, being called McHenry Moves 2050, provides a detailed roadmap for how MCDOT will plan, build, operate, maintain, and partner for improved mobility in the next 30 years. McHenry Moves 2050 will guide future funding plans and policies needed to move our County forward for a more mobile, resilient, accessible and sustainable future.
The Plan’s direction will be led by extensive public outreach efforts, including pop-up events, workshops, tables at community events, focus groups, and/or engaging stakeholder groups directly.
The first workshops were held last week. Staff were encouraged by the participation and discussion during the event. Please contact Jon Paul Diipla at JPDiipla@mchenrycountyil.gov <mailto:JPDiipla@mchenrycountyil.gov> to learn more about the planning process.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
Jon Paul Diipla informed attendees on an update to McHenry County’s Bike Plan, also known as the McHenry County Connection.
In the Fall of 2020, the McHenry County Council of Mayors in partnership with the McHenry County Division of Transportation initiated the planning process for the McHenry County Connection Master Plan. The last time the County undertook a bicycle and pedestrian plan was in 1996, since then the County has transformed dramatically and the bicycle and pedestrian needs have as well.
Since then, staff and consultants have worked to draft a final plan based on the input they received from stakeholder meetings, data collection, and research conducted. Most recently, a final public survey was conducted to gather thoughts and suggestions to several of the presented recommendations. The final plan is expected to be released in winter 2021 and adopted by the MCCOM in early 2022. This effort will help guide the development of programmatic recommendations which will be included in the plan.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
https://mchenrycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=5028&Inline=True
Alerts Sign-up