Region 9: 2025 Meeting Minutes (12/12)

 

HSTP Region 9

December 12^th, 2024

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

Attendees:

Nathan Nichols	Central Illinois Public Transportation in Effingham
Andrea Boda	Illinois Valley Rehab in Gillespie
Dave Maziarz	Illinois Department of Transportation in Springfield
Eric Robke	Community Link in Breese
Felicia Voelkel	Glen Carbon Senior Center in Glen Carbon
Jennifer Noel	Bond County Public Transit in Gillespie
Jerry McDonald	Tri-County Rural Public Transportation in Jerseyville
Joe Domer	Madison County Transit/Agency for Community Transit in Granite City
Michael Egbert	Opportunities for Access CIL in Mt. Vernon
Pam Smith	Senior Services Plus in Alton
Perry Cox	Illinois Department of Transportation in Edwardsville
Peggy Dunn	Macoupin County Public Transit in Gillespie
Sherry Hicks	Fayco Enterprises, Inc. in Vandalia
Sherri Bassen	South Central Transit in Centralia
Susan Thomas	Madison County Transit/Agency for Community Transit in Granite City
Todd Nickel	Challenge Unlimited/Residential Options in Alton
Wendy Settles	IMPACT CIL in Alton
Kaitlyn Meyer	JewelRide Transportation in Edwardsville
Stephanie Scroggins	Senior Service Plus in Alton
Michelle Shrout	Senior Services Plus in Alton
Riley Anderson	Assistant Human Service Transportation Coordinator in Salem
Terri Finn	Human Service Transportation Coordinator in Salem

 

Call to Order – The Region 9 quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11:04 a.m. by Chairperson Nathan Nichols.

Introductions – All of those in attendance introduced themselves and announced their agency as well as what their favorite thing about the Holidays is.

Approval of September 12^th Meeting Minutes – Joe Domer pointed out a correction to be made. Jennifer Noel made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Sherry Hicks seconded the motion.

Regional Plan 2022 – There were no updates from the previous meeting to the current Regional Plan. Riley Anderson opened it to discussion any updates to the gaps and needs that need to be made. CIPT reported they hired more drivers and have made it through training. They have also added two dispatchers to their team. Madison County Transit announced a service change to the fixed route starting January 12^th.

Regional Plan 2025 – Riley presented the Regional Demographics/Charts data for the Regional Plan. She made the updates to the charts based on the comments and opinions from the group at the last meeting. She made the updates to the charts based on the comments and opinions from the group at the last meeting. The group approved the updates. Riley went through the survey results with the group, highlighting items to discuss during the gaps and needs. Terri went through the gaps and needs and opened it to the group to discuss strategies. There was a discussion about the need for weekend and evening service, staff shortages, aging vehicles, out of county transportation, and educating the riders on services available. This is an ongoing discussion. Please reach out to Terri and Riley with your strategies. The surveys that are currently used for the Regional Plan and recommended by IDOT are outdated and don’t speak to the region. Terri and Riley will work with RTAC and IDOT to update the surveys.

Transportation Concerns – Sherry Hicks shared that she is a part of the RTAC board and they are discussing possible sessions at the conference. A discussion about HSTP reviews and findings has been thrown out as a potential session to attend and be a part of the discussion. Nathan mentioned that Shelby County dialysis and Fayette County dialysis shutting down. Now riders who require dialysis at those locations will have to travel out of county for transportation. Dialysis centers shutting down is an ongoing issue.

General Discussion –

IDOT Update – Dave Maziarz shared the IDOT is interested in training ideas so if you have any please reach out and let him know. He shared that minivans will be out early Spring. CVP applications will be made available in Spring/Summer of 2025.

Handout/Resource Materials – Riley shared that the University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois Department of Transportation Non-Emergency Medical Transportation is planning to meet in January. They will share updates, if any, at the next meeting. By January, the Committee will have conducted twenty-two stakeholder interviews. Terri and Riley were among those interviewed for the survey. Terri and Riley were asked to moderate a breakout group regarding the importance of the Human Service Transportation Program and what we do. The process for dispositions will be on Blackcat eventually. This will hopefully streamline the process. Riley covered the handouts.

Set Meeting Dates/Locations for 2025 – The first meeting of 2025 will be March 13^th at IMPACT CIL in Alton. The second meeting will be June 12^th at South Central Transit in Centralia. The third meeting will be September 11^th at Fayco Enterprises, Inc. in Vandalia. The fourth meeting will be December 11^th on Zoom.

We will be nominating the new Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary at the next meeting.

Adjourn – Sherri Bassen motioned to adjourn with Nathan Nichols seconding the motion. The meeting adjourned at 12:36 p.m.