Region 9: 2019 Meeting Minutes (3/14)

 

HSTP REGION 9

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

March 14, 2019

 

Attendees:

Joe Domer	Madison Co. Transit\Agency for Community Transit-Granite City
Susan Thomas	Madison Co. Transit\Agency for Community Transit-Granite City
Wendy Settles	IMPACT CIL-Alton
Donna Guild	Il. Valley Economic Development Corp.-Gillespie
Pamela Bell	Il. Valley Rehab-Gillespie
Lacey Miller	Tri-County Rural Transit-Jerseyville
Sherry Hicks	Fayco-Vandalia
David Riegel	Fayco\Fayette Co. Board-Vandalia
Mike Egbert	Opportunities for Access CIL-Mt. Vernon
Nathan Nichols	Central Il. Public Transit\CEFS-Effingham
Sara Berkbigler	Main St. Community Center-Edwardsville
Peggy Dunn	Macoupin Co. Public Transit-Gillespie
Michele Suwe	Village of Glen Carbon\Sr. Center-Glen Carbon
Chris Markel	Beverly Farm Foundation-Godfrey
Michele McDaniel	Community Link-Breese
Melissa Theiss	East-West Gateway-St. Louis
Terri Finn	HSTP Coordinator-Salem

 

The quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11:01 A.M., by Chairperson David Riegel, at the Madison Co. Transit office in Granite City. David called for all present to introduce themselves.   

 

The minutes from the September 2018 meeting were reviewed.  Lacey Miller made a motion to approve those minutes.  Mike Egbert seconded the motion. Minutes approved with no additions or corrections.

 

Guest Speaker: Susan Thomas & Joe Domer-Madison Co. Transit\Agency for Community Transit

Committee members were provided gift\information bags with various items about MCT\ACT’s routes, services, etc.  Joe explained the fixed route system, with its 89 buses and 5 transfer stations that runs Monday-Friday, 5am-7pm. 

Susan explained the Runabout paratransit system that runs in the urbanized area of Madison Co. and on a limited basis (medical) in the outlying area of the county.  ACT\Runabout has 29 vehicles and does approximately 80,000 trips.  There is an application process for disabled and elderly riders and staff will work with prospective riders &\or family to process applications as quickly as possible.  

No-shows are a problem, as with other providers.  Policy allows 4 no-shows, after that service is denied for 2 weeks.

Mobility training-“Learning in Motion” is a program that starts with 3^rd graders to teach them how to ride the bus and is done in 15 county schools.  There is also a travel training program that teaches riders how to transition from paratransit to fixed route commuting.

Ride Share-interested commuters register online and are linked with others carpool or vanpool to work or school.

Trailways-MCT maintains trails around Madison Co. and all buses have bike racks, as well as bike lockers at transfer stations.        

 

General Discussion:

·         Agency Information\Updates

o   CIPT has a new Managing Director, Beth Marts, who has replaced Susan Love.

o   Il. Valley Economic Development Corp. has a new Executive Director. 

o   Tri-County Rural Transit & Macoupin Co. Transit are coordinating more trip services between counties.

o   Beverly Farms has a new Director, John Huelskamp.

o   Tri-County Rural Transit is looking for vendors as they have funding for vehicle cameras.

o   East-West Gateway will be beginning the process of updating their metropolitan plan that includes Madison, Monroe & St. Clair counties in July.    

·         New Business\Open Discussion

o   Terri Finn provided updates from the March RTAC conference; 1) It was stressed that DOAP & 5311 applications need to be done accurately with all information inserted and submitted on time.  2) There were 37.4 million rides provided downstate last year and IDOT says “Good Job!!”.  3) The IPTA Fall Conference will be held on Sept. 18^th-20^th at Rosemont in Chicago.  4) Next year’s RTAC conference will be held on March 3^rd & 4^th in Springfield.  5) There will be a rally in Springfield on April 3^rd sponsored by Transportation for Il. Coalition.  Terri will forward more information as it becomes available. 

o   Terri Finn reviewed handouts and asked agencies to send her information, newsletters, etc. that might pertain to their transportation services so she can spread the word about what is happening in S. Il. to various resources, websites, Facebook pages, etc.    

o   Election of Officers-Terri Finn explained that according to the regions bylaws elections are to be held at the first meeting of any odd numbered year (every 2 years).  She asked for volunteers or nominations from the committee.  Lacey Miller nominated Peggy Dunn to the chairperson position and herself to the vice-chair position.  No movement on the position of secretary.  Terri stated that she would ask Sara Nollman-Hodge from South Central Transit if she would take the position but if she declines the committee would have to vote on a secretary at the May meeting.  The committee voted and approved this tentative slate of officers.

o   CVP application information-Terri Finn reported that Mike Healy has left IDOT and Zoe Keller has taken his place for now.  IDOT’s legal team is working on the 5310 CVP application and an issue with GATA.  There is no word when the applications will be released but Terri will notify everyone with any updates.  Award letters for the 2018 approved vehicles are on Zoe’s desk.  The public providers should receive theirs in April with others possibly in May or June.       

o   Ideas for guest speakers or meeting topics-SWAN Domestic Violence agency, Adult Protective Service.  Terri will try to get someone from these agencies to speak at upcoming meetings. 

  

·         Next Meeting: May 16^th CIPT will host probably in Vandalia

 

Adjourn:

·         Nathan Nichols made a motion to adjourn.  Peggy Dunn seconded the motion.  Meeting adjourned at 11:57am and all were invited to stay for a tour of MCT.