Region 10: 2024 Meeting Minutes (4/17)

 

HSTP Region 10

Meeting Minutes

April 17^th 

Attendees:

Matthew Lingle	Lawrence-Crawford Association for Expectational Citizens - Robinson
Cory Young	Marion County Horizon Center - Salem
Dave Maziarz	Illinois Department of Transportation - Springfield
Dave Patton	Rural Transit Assistance Center - Springfield
Mark Auten	TRADE Industries - McLeansboro
Kevin Bushur	C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation - Effingham
Meredith Cornwell	Rides Mass Transit - Harrisburg
Tarcy Schmidt	Charleston Transitional Facility - Olney
Peter Niccum	Community Support Services - Teutopolis
Nathan Nichols	C.E.F.S./Central Illinois Public Transportation - Effingham
Darlene McCoy	Lawrence-Crawford Association for Exceptional Citizens - Robinson
John Althoff	Central Illinois Public Transportation - Effingham
John Gillmore	Central Illinois Public Transit - Effingham
Beth Beck-Marts	Central Illinois Public Transit/Effingham County Public Transit - Effingham
Gidget Simpson	CILA Corporation - Flora
Betty Cox	Clay County Rehab - Flora
Jennifer Hernandez	Caritas Family Solutions - Olney
Karri Holland	Caritas Family Solutions - Olney
Michael Egbert	Opportunities for Access - Mt. Vernon
Kelly Lockhart	Effingham County - Effingham
Riley Anderson	Assistant Human Service Transportation Planning Coordinator - Salem
Terri Finn	Human Service Transportation Planning Coordinator - Salem

 

     I.            Call to Order: The quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order by Mark Auten at 11:01 a.m.

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

III.            Approval of January 2024 Meeting Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed. No additions or corrections. Motion to approve by Beth Beck-Marts seconded by Cory Young.

IV.            Guest Speaker: Kevin Bushur from C.E.F.S. was the guest speaker. He shared information about the services offered. The agency does Meals on Wheels to seniors in Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Montgomery. It takes 1,000 volunteers a day to deliver the meals to seniors in the five counties. CEFS/CIPT offers a wide variety of services to the seven counties they cover including; assistance to persons experiencing homelessness, LIHEAP program which offers utility assistance, HeadStart program for ages 3-5, and offers Youth Scholarships for summer camp. This is only a small portion of what the agency does.

 V.            Regional Plan: Riley Anderson presented the Regional Plan updates to the group. Now that CVP awards have been announced the agencies are waiting on the vehicle deliveries. At this time there is no ETA on when the vehicles will be ready. A lot of agencies are still struggling to hire drivers. As there is always discussion of services being restricted due to vehicle shortage and driver shortage, Dave Maziarz asked the group to share what services will improve because of newer vehicles being awarded. And to clarify what services have left the community as a result, along with rides being denied. It is good for IDOT to know the needs of the transportation providers.

CIPT has seen a 53% improvement in medical transportation. They have a designated Medical Transport Coordinator that the dispatchers refer calls to when the rides are Medicaid related. The coordinator works with Medicaid billing and NEMT trips.

CIPT also received a grant to supplement the Title III B funding, it will help to provide trips for persons 60+, veterans (need a valid military ID), and individuals with disabilities within the county. This started May 1^st.

CIPT also started a deviated response route, in Effingham city only. It started July 1^st with 190 units a month and is now up to 453 units a month. They are planning on adding another route on the south side of Effingham as soon as interstate construction is finished.

The new vehicles will be equipped with wheelchair lifts that have a higher weight capacity.  

CIPT reported that Safe Rides tried to contract with them to provide transportation, however, they felt that terms of the contract were unrealistic and were unable to reach an agreement.

VI.            Transportation Concerns: CIPT has been denying rides outside of the counties they cover, specifically Champaign County. CIPT has a contract with MTM/Modivcare (Medicaid brokers) to provide dialysis/medical appointments. At times, CIPT is asked to provide transportation to dialysis appointments outside the counties they cover and are forced to deny the trip due to being unable to set aside a bus for just one trip. Dialysis offices are not always willing to coordinate with CIPT to ensure their clients are able to get to their appointment. RIDES MTD also noted they have had to deny rides due to not having a vehicle available or being out of county.  Medicaid guidelines do not allow transit agencies to coordinate rides with other transit agencies. This has led to trips being denied.

Terri Finn gave an update on the Transportation Assistance Committee that was started by IDOT and University of Illinois Chicago. Riley Anderson has been in contact with medical providers to do surveys. Those medical providers will be contacted with surveys for our HSTP plan update also. The group will be kept in the loop.

Dave Patton mentioned the Capital Needs Assessment that IDOT is working on and thanked the agencies for providing information as needed. As well as reminding them to keep an eye out for emails.

VII.            General Discussion: Riley Anderson went through the handouts.

Dave Maziarz shared that there will be no CVP applications this year. Hopefully, FY’ 25 CVP applications will be available next Spring. Maziarz also mentioned that if any member of the committee has an IDOT issue to please get in touch with him so that he may offer his assistance or get in contact with someone who can help.

Dave Patton mentioned the rodeo that RTAC puts on every year is coming up and any interested drivers may participate. Patton also shared that anyone interested may go to the RTAC website for driver training information.

The next HSTP meeting will be July 16^th at Clay County Rehab in Flora.

VIII.            Adjourn: Betty Cox motioned to adjourn at 11:49 a.m. and Beth Beck-Marts seconded the motion.