R89-147 APPROVING SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

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� CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS DECATUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR SELF-INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR MASS TRANSIT INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED BIDDERS DESCRIPTION Decatur is a community of 94,081 persons located in Central Illinois. The City comprises a land area of 34 .7 square miles or 2,712 residents per square mile. It is basically a "blue collar" community with such industries as Borg-Warner: A. E. Staley; Archer-Daniels-Midland; Firestone; Mueller Co. ; Wagner Castings; and Caterpillar Tractor Company located here. Approximately 15 percent of the population is comprised of minority persons. Municipal government is the City Manager/Council form with an appointed City Manager and an elected Mayor and six Council- men. The Department of Community Development has direct respon- sibility for the 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 to the City since that date. The City owns 29 transit coaches (19-1979 Grumman Flxible' s and 7-1987 Flxible Metros and 3-1973 GMC' s) , but only operates 17 during the peak periods of the day. There are 41 full-time employees, consisting of 24 operators, 8 mechanics, and 9 admin- istrative staff inembers. The current transit operating budget is about $2 million. The transit system is a strong advocate of safety practices. It screens and tests applicants for bus operator positions, provides employees training and re-training, uses a comprehensive set of work rules and a Standard Operating Procedures Manual, has constant street supervision and uses undercover security inspec- tions twice annually, conducts annual evaluations of employees, establishes annual goals and objectives for safety, and has a good vehicle maintenance program. In addition, DPTS has an Accident Review Board to determine preventability of accidents, an incentive and safety award program and it belongs to the National Safety Council. The Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS) provides bus service every day of the week except Sunday. The system operated 653,725 miles and carried 854,253 passengers, including trans- fers, during City Fiscal Year 1988-89. Students comprise almost 31 percent of total ridership. In addition, DPTS also provides specialized transportation services for the handicapped. Zt not only funds a subsidized taxi-cab program for the handicapped, but it also operates a demand-responsive, lift-equipped van for wheelchair-bound persons unable to use the taxi-cab program.