R2008-220 APPROVING CHANGES IN BUS ROUTES AND SCHEDULES

Home Browse Search

Mass Transit Memorandum No. 111008-1 November 10, 2008 TO: Honorable Mayor Carrigan and City Council Members FROM: Ryan McCrady, City Manager �y�✓ Paul McChancy, Mass Transit Administra�e SUBJECT: Proposal to Change Bus and Trolley Routes Serving the Southwest Quadrant of the City SUMMARY Staff recommends that Council adopt a Resolution changing the RECOMMENDATION: routes and schedules of the four bus and trolley routes that serve the southwest quadrant of the City, as shown on the attached sheets. BACKGROUND: Several months ago Transit staff began working on plans to improve bus service to the new Decatur Township office on S. Taylorville Road (IL 48), which is now scheduled to �pen around January l st. Staff realized that the current schedule for the area— one bus every two hours, six trips per day—would not be sufficient. Staff found that the solution to this problem requires the realignment of the four bus and trolley routes that serve the southwest quadrant of the City, because these routes overlap or interline with each other. The proposed changes not only provide improved, hourly service to the new Decatur Township office, they also improve public transportation to the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, and to the new senior citizen assisted living facility on US 51 at Lincoln Park Dr. As an added benefit, these changes would also enhance the purpose of, and significantly increase ridership on the Millikin Area Trolley. Only the area surrounding N. Oakland Ave., from Main St. to Grand Ave., would have bus service reduced from one bus every 30 minutes to one bus per hour. Every other area would have the same or improved service. POTENTIAL Only two objections have been received. (See attached hearing OBJECTION: summary.) One person felt that the Millikin Area Trolley was very important to foreign students at Millikin University. The other lives near N. Oakland Ave. and objected to having bus service reduced to one bus per hour. No other objections to this project are anticipated.. ,