R99-173 AUTHORIZING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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Background and Description I Decatur is a community of about 85,000 people located in central Illinois. The City comprises a land area of 44 square miles, with a population density of over 1,900 people per square mile. It is basically a"blue collar" community with large industries such as A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company,Archer-Daniels-Midland; Bridgestone/Firestone; Mueller Company; Wagner Castings; and Caterpillar Tractor Company located here. Approximately 15% of the population is composed of minority persons. Municipal government is the City Manager/Council form with an appointed City Manager and an elected Mayor and six Council members. The Department of Community Development has direct responsibility for the mass transit system. The transit system was acquired from a private operator in 1972 and it has been managed by a private management firm under contract with the City since that date. The Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS) owns 26 transit coaches (7-1979 Grumman Flexible's, 7-1987 Metro's, and 12-1993 TMC's), but only operates 20 during the peak periods of the day. The current transit operating budget is about$2.5 million. DPTS provides bus service every day of the week except Sunday. The system operates more than 700,000 miles annually, and has carried about 850,000 to one million passengers each year for the last ten years. Students comprise almost 23 percent of total ridership. In addition, DPTS also provides specialized transportation services for the handicapped. The City not only funds a subsidized taxi-cab program for the handicapped, but it also operates four demand-responsive, lift-equipped vans for wheelchair-bound persons unable to use the taxi-cab program. The current downtown transfer axea is located on-street at the intersection of Water and East William Streets. The City has purchased the old Civic Center parking garage (Parking Garage A) which is located less than two blocks east of the present transfer area. The City plans to demolish the structure and to use the tract of land as the site for a new multi-modal transportation center. The building would be situated near the center of the property and would contain a waiting area, restrooms, offices, drivers' lounge, etc. DPTS would have an office to sell monthly passes, punchcards and tokens to the public. It is also hoped that the local taxi-cab companies, Greyhound, and possibly a limousine service or other transportation providers could be located in this facility.