Human Services Transportation Plan
Regional Transportation Committee
In 2005 the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced program changes to a transportation bill that required coordinated action plans for public transit and human service transportation at the state, regional, and local levels. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) created 11 regions that are made up of rural or small urban areas. Each region, with the help of a regional coordinator, is responsible for developing this coordinated plan known as the Human Service Transportation Plan (HSTP). IDOT selected NCICG as the agency responsible for coordinating the HSTP in Region 1 and Region 3. The HSTP is based on input and direction from the Regional Transportation Committee which is a team of stakeholders interested in the transportation needs of the community. A mix of transportation system operators, rider advocates, human service organizations, schools, businesses, and other agencies within the community are involved and vital to the transportation committee.
Region 1
Region 1 consists of five counties in northwestern Illinois.
Carroll, Boone, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties encompass 2,451 square miles of rolling hills, farm land, and corn or soybean fields. While Winnebago County is home to the urban Rockford metropolitan area, the rest of region 1 is rural and, according to the 2010 census, has a population around 285,000 (minus the roughly 150,000 Rockford population). Each county has its own public transportation system that operates as a demand-response system with the exception of Rockford metropolitan area that uses a fixed route bus system run by the Rockford Mass Transit District. As participants in the Human Service Transportation Plan each county sends several representatives to the regional transportation committee meetings to create and guide the framework for delivering effective public transportation services to seniors, persons with disabilities, individuals with lower incomes, and the general public.
Vision: Creating more mobile communities.
Mission: Making connections to create more mobile communities by providing safe and efficient transportation that meets consumer needs.
Region 3
Region 3 is located in north central Illinois and consists of 8 counties with a population of 514,395 (2010 U.S. Census) and covers 5,073 square miles.
The Counties of Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, and Putnam range from small urban to rural. Bordering Chicago Suburbs and hosting Northern Illinois University and other smaller community colleges, DeKalb, Kendall, and Grundy Counties have pockets of small urban areas, however, a majority of the region is rural. There are 6 demand-response public transportation systems and one public fixed route (NIU, not included in HSTP) in the region. In order to ensure quality transportation for the riders and efficient use of resources, each county sends several representatives to the regional transportation committee meetings to create and guide the Human Service Transportation Plan which is the framework for delivering effective public transportation services to seniors, persons with disabilities, individuals with lower incomes, and the general public.
Vision: Creating accessible mobility for the community.
Mission: Provide a coordinated effort that promotes rider independence through safe mobility and accessible transportation.
