Region 9: 2025 Meeting Minutes (3/13)

 

HSTP Region 9

March 13^th, 2025

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

Attendees:

Dale Deverick	Bond County Transit in Greenville
Wendy Settles	IMPACT CIL in Alton
Nathan Nichols	Central Illinois Public Transportation in Effingham
Eric Robke	Community Link in Breese
Felicia Voelkel	Glen Carbon Senior Center in Glen Carbon
Joe Domer	Madison County Transit/Agency for Community Transit in Granite City
Perry Cox	Illinois Department of Transportation in Edwardsville
Andrea Boda	Illinois Valley Rehab in Gillespie
Sherry Hicks	Fayco Enterprises, Inc. in Vandalia
Peggy Dunn	Macoupin County Public Transit in Gillespie
Mike Egbert	Opportunities for Access CIL in Mt. Vernon
Pam Jones	Senior Services 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

 

        I.            Call to Order – The Region 9 quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11:06 a.m. by Chairperson Nathan Nichols.

     II.            Introductions – All of those in attendance introduced themselves and announced their agency as well as a bucket list item they have completed or would like to complete.

  III.            Approval of December of 2024 Meeting Minutes – No corrections noted. Mike Egbert made a motion to approve the minutes. Joe Domer seconded the motion.

  IV.            Regional Plan 2022 – The group discussed the updates from the previous meeting. No new updates were noted. This marks the end of updates to the 2022 Regional Plan.

    V.            Regional Plan 2025 – Riley Anderson presented the 2025 Regional Plan. It was open for comments until March 1^st. The group discussed the gaps and needs that will be addressed in the next three years of working on this plan. Along with the coordination successes from the previous plan. There was a discussion regarding MCT expanding their microtransit service to Bethalto and Cottage Hills. Nathan Nichols made a motion to approve the 2025 Regional Plan. Peggy Dunn seconded the motion. The plan was approved. 

  VI.            Transportation Concerns – There was a discussion among committee members regarding road problems; potholes damaging their buses and making it difficult for riders to safely access bus stops.

At the RTAC conference, there was a discussion regarding issues with floor rotting. One public transportation agency uses fluid film to prevent rotting on an annual basis.

Some agencies have expressed interest in a meeting with only the 5310 agencies. There was positive feedback. Riley and Terri will bring this to the other two HSTP regions and reach out via email to everyone to secure a meeting date, location, details, etc.

There was a discussion on themed promotions and what the agency’s can do to promote their transportation services and engage potential riders. CIPT and MCT both offer free trips during the Christmas season and have Santa riding/driving the bus. CIPT also offers free trips on election day to the polls. Fayco does a “hop on transit” promotion during Easter.

MCO brokers have been calling public transportation providers to purchase passes for the beneficiary/rider for NEMT rather than paying the negotiated cost of the trip. This should not be done as the transportation provider incurs the cost of the trip and per Medicaid guidance the financial burden shouldn’t be on the transportation provider.

The IPTA conference is in Champaign-Urbana this year. It is the 50^th anniversary of the conference. The dates are September 29^th through October 1^st.

 

VII.            General Discussion –

a.       IDOT Update – Perry Cox shared that CVP vehicles are rolling out. Last week the contracts rolled out to agency’s that were awarded a 5310 vehicle. Once the agency has completed the contract and obtained insurance for the vehicle, the vehicles will start rolling out. 5311 applications are due April 1^st.

b.      Handouts/Resource Materials – Riley went through the handouts.

c.       Election of Officers – Pam Jones from Senior Services Plus is the new Chairperson. Peggy Dunn from Macoupin Co. Public Transit is the new Vice-Chair. Andrea Boda from Illinois Valley Rehab is the new secretary.

d.      Next meeting is June 12^th at 11 a.m. at South Central Transit in Centralia

 

VIII.            Adjourn – Sherry Hicks motioned to adjourn with Felicia seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 11:53 a.m.