Region 11: 2026 Meeting Minutes (5/20)

 

HSTP Region 11

May 20, 2026

Agenda

Robert Wilson	Alternative Transportation Systems/ St. Clair Co. Transit District – East St. Louis
Damon Loveless	Touchette Regional Hospital – Cahokia Heights
Justin Johnson	South Central Transit – Centralia
Sara Nollman	South Central Transit – Centralia
Erin Bryant	Five Star Industries, Inc. – Du Quoin
Howard Penrod	Arrowleaf – Vienna
Kendrick Bell	JTC Academy – Cahokia Heights
Lauren Reis	AgeSmart – Swansea
Mark Beare	Monroe-Randolph Transit District – Sparta
Brianna Gilson	Caritas Family Solutions – Belleville
Brittany Beatty	Caritas Family Solutions – Belleville
Melissa Jones	Caritas Family Solutions – Belleville
Tunezia Badger	Spero Family Services – Mt. Vernon
David Maziarz	IDOT – Springfield
Kristina Vaughan	Comprehensive Connections – Mt. Vernon
Janee Baldwin	Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois – Belleville
Cate Young	East-West Gateway Council of Governments – East St. Louis
Jeffrey Drake	Rides Mass Transit District – Harrisburg
Ron Gorst	Shawnee Mass Transit District - Vienna
John Burris	Illinois Center for Autism – Fairview Heights
Mark Bollman	ComWell – RedBud
Patty Evansco	Millstadt Township Senior Services – Millstadt
James Harris	Centerstone – West Frankfort
Riley Anderson	Human Service Transportation Coordinator – Salem

 

        I.            Call to Order: The quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11 a.m. by Chairperson Ron Gorst.

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

  III.            Approval of February 2026 Meeting Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed by the committee. No corrections were noted. Mark Beare motioned to approve the minutes with Robert Wilson seconding the motion.

  IV.            Guest Speaker: Ron Gorst from Shawnee Mass Transit District was the guest speaker. He spoke of the Community Rides Grant his agency applied for and was awarded. The agency was awarded $100,000 to address the community need for extended hours and weekend service. A portion of the funds will go towards informational pieces about the transit services available.

    V.            Regional Plan 2025: Riley Anderson presented the updates to the Regional Plan. Jeffrey Drake motioned to approve the updates, Sara Hodge seconded the motion. The committee discussed the gaps and needs. Monroe-Randolph Transit District (MRTD) is introducing fixed route services in Chester and Sparta beginning May 4. To promote the new service, MRTD will be going through the housing community door-to-door with permission from the local police.

  VI.            Transportation Concerns: David Maziarz asked Shawnee Mass Transit District (SMTD) about staffing the new extended hours of service. Instead of hiring more drivers, SMTD allowed the staff to volunteer to fill the and pay the drivers overtime. At first, ridership was slow and has since picked up. The trips are 90% shopping and 10% medical.

MRTD spoke in more detail about their new fixed route service and flex service. The agency is considering offering free passes to encourage ridership on the new transit services.

JTC Academy has three schools and a transitional center which is their sister company is expanding. 48+ boys will be accepted in the new cottages. The agency discussed bus monitors and asked if other agencies also have bus monitors that ride with the clients.  

VII.            General Discussion:

a.       IDOT Updates: David Maziarz was in attendance. IDOT is working on CVP. There is no update on when those applications will come available. There is a new BlackCat log-in. Jami Trybom emailed instructions on how to set up the new log-in. If you have any questions, reach out to the HSTP Coordinator.

b.      HSTP Coordinator Updates: Riley updated the group on NEMT efforts.

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

d.      Next meeting will be at Spero Family Services in Mt. Vernon on August 19^th at 11 a.m.

VIII.            Adjourn: Briana Gilson motioned to adjourn at 11:51 a.m. Kendrick Bell seconded the motion.