Region 11: 2025 Meeting Minutes (8/20)

HSTP Region 11

August 20^th, 2025

Meeting Minutes

Damon Loveless	Touchette Regional Hospital – Cahokia
Mark Beare	Monroe-Randolph Transit District – Sparta
Angela Craig	Monroe-Randolph Transit District – Sparta
Kendrick Bell	JTC Academy – Cahokia Heights
Dave Maziarz	IDOT - Springfield
Lauren Reis	AgeSmart – Swansea
Tammy Rowden	Centerstone of Illinois – West Frankfort
Brad Friend	Centerstone of Illinois – West Frankfort
Jimmy Leadingham	Jax Mass Transit – Carbondale
Neal Donoho	Comprehensive Connections – Mt. Vernon
Ron Gorst	Shawnee Mass Transit District – Vienna
Janee Baldwin	Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois – Belleville
Erin Bryant	5 Star Industries – DuQuoin
Howard Penrod	Arrowleaf – Vienna
Chris Dickey	Clay County Rehab – Flora
Jeffrey Drake	Rides Mass Transit District – Harrisburg
Rob Wilson	Alternative Transportation Systems/St. Clair County Transit District – East St. Louis
Sara Nollman-Hodge	South Central Transit – Centralia
Justin Johnson	South Central Transit – Centralia
Kaleb Hooter	ComWell - RedBud
Melissa Jones	Human Support Services - Waterloo
Kari Docherty	Spero Family Services – Mt. Vernon
Paul Wibbenmeyer	S.A.V.E. – Belleville
Cate Young	East-West Gateway – St. Louis
Patty Evansco	Millstadt Senior Center – Millstadt
Jon Douglas	Linc, Inc. - RedBud
Fonda Jones	Lessie Bates Seasoned Circle Café – East St. Louis
Riley Anderson	Assistant Human Service Transportation Coordinator – Salem
Terri Finn	Human Service Transportation Coordinator – Salem

        I.         I. Call to Order: The quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11:08 a.m. by Chairperson Ron Gorst. Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois in Belleville was the host.

        I.        II. Introductions: All attendees introduced themselves and their agencies.

     II.        III. Approval of May of 2025 Meeting Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed. No corrections were noted. Motion to approve by Rob Wilson, seconded by Jeffrey Drake.

  III.        IV. Guest Speaker: Chris Dickey from Clay County Rehab in Flora was the guest speaker. She discussed how client transportation is funded by DHS. The agency receives approximately $17 per person/per day if the person is in attendance. This amount includes transportation. The agency loses $10,000 a year in funding transportation. They utilize three public transportation providers in their region (South Central Transit, Central Illinois Public Transit, and Rides Mass Transit). The service contracts they hold with these three agencies do not change if a client does not ride. The costs are the same whether everyone is on the bus or no one is on the bus.

Chris also discussed regarding PSW (Personal Support Worker) getting paid first and the agency getting paid second but it depends on who submits the billing information first. This is causing the human service agencies to lose money, while still providing the service to the client.

Along with a discussion on agency policy regarding passengers being front or rear facing when riding the lift and securement policies, which differs depending on agency policy. On some buses, the human service agency will assist with passenger securement.

  IV.         V. Regional Plan 2025: Riley presented the updates to the Regional Plan. There was a discussion on what agencies are doing to meet the gaps and needs. South Central Transit is doing free trips in August on Fridays. Riders can hop on any public shuttle on Fridays for free. This excludes deviations. The agency regularly offers giveaways for their riders. They recently did a BBQ basket giveaway.

Jax Mass Transit has new bus stop signs which were produced locally and funded by the city of Carbondale and SIUC. They have updated their route schedule/service hours adjustment based on rider use and community need to be more conducive to the riders need. ‘JaxFlex’ is a marketing strategy to engage riders on the agency’s social media.  

Monroe-Randolph is marketing their Route to Better Transit survey in-person at various community places, online, and through flyers at grocery stores, gyms, medical offices, buses, schools, etc. The survey will be open until September 9^th.

Comwell on October 20^th has Voices for Community Change to garner feedback about services. Transportation can be arranged.

St. Clair County Transit District has a promotional for ‘No Red Day’ where riders can receive free transit day passes to help reduce pollution.

JTC Academy is expanding. They are opening a new campus in the fall of this year and will be able to serve more students.

Shawnee Mass Transit discussed issues with third parties grabbing rides on portals for NEMT trips and having vehicles that are not accessible.

The HSTP Coordinators coordinated the fourth Schedulers Meeting recently that was hosted by Shawnee Mass Transit. Mobility management was the topic of the meeting. There was good attendance and they will continue these on an annual basis. They also coordinated two 5310 meetings for the human service agencies with 5310 vehicles in Regions 9, 10, and 11. There was good attendance and discussion between all who attended. These meetings will continue on an annual basis.

IDOT is interested in adding a new Regional Maintenance Facility in Southern Illinois that will be in a more central location for agencies with 5310 vehicles to get the vehicles worked on. South Central Transit and Shawnee Mass Transit expressed interest in being a location for the maintenance facility.

    V.          VI. Transportation Concerns: Transportation concerns were voiced during the Regional Plan 2025 discussion.

  VI.         VII. General Discussion:

a.       IDOT Update: Dave Maziarz shared that there is no set date for CVP applications. The funding for the next application cycle has been secured. If you are having safety issues with the newly delivered CVP vehicles, email Zoe Keller at IDOT and cc’ Riley and Terri. If you do not have Zoe’s contact information, email Riley and Terri and they will put you in contact with her.

b.      Potential Guest Speaker Ideas: If anyone has any contacts or agencies, they would like to see speak at an HSTP meeting, please reach out to Terri and Riley and let them know.

c.       Handouts/Resource Materials: Riley Anderson went through the handouts.

d.      Next meeting is November 19^th at South Central Transit in Centralia.

VII.          VIII. Adjourn: Jimmy Leadingham motioned to adjourn at 12:34 p.m. and seconded by Melissa Jones.