Funding scheduled to run out April 25, with renewal up to village board vote
HUNTLEY – The Village of Huntley’s Senior Transportation program is forecasted to run out of funds on April 25, based on current costs and funding. The program began last November, the same month Grafton Township stopped serving residents of Rutland and Hampshire Townships on its senior bus.
The village’s program offers rides in cabs and other vehicles through Route 47 Taxi Transportation. The $2 one-way rides are available throughout the corporate limits of Huntley to village residents 55 and over.
Funding for the program came from the annual $10,000 the village gave to Grafton for its senior bus. When Grafton Township cut off service to Huntley residents outside its boundaries in November, the village took the remaining $6,000 and put it toward its own program.
Village Clerk Rita McMahon said the decision of whether or not to continue funding the transportation program is “tentatively scheduled” for a March 20 village board meeting.
“If they can dedicate money to continue the service in 2014 … then that’s overtaking it in March, so then come April there will be no break in the service,” McMahon said.
(Sun Day Graphic)
Ridership for the village’s program has more than doubled in about two months – 25 riders used the service in the first week of December, and over 50 rode in the first week of February, according to data released by the village. Each ride costs an average of $9.18.
That same data shows that riders used the village’s program for a number of reasons. From Dec. 1, 2013 to Feb. 7, 2014, the biggest destination was grocery stores, with 38 percent of riders using the service to shop. Medical was the second-largest category at 27 percent, with restaurants, hair appointments, visiting the bank, and other destinations accounting for the remaining 35 percent of rides.
“It’s been positive, very positive,” McMahon said of feedback from riders.
Dianne Hansen, N.8, said she is happy with the village’s service and is grateful it has filled the transportation need for Rutland seniors. Still, she said she misses the socialization the Grafton bus offered.
Seniors interested in using the village’s transportation service can contact McMahon by calling 847-515-5261 to fill out a registration form.
SCCAH Board President Bonnie Bayser said the board is “keeping an eye” on the issue of senior transportation and plans to create a committee to help advocate for seniors needing rides and provide information to those in need. At this time, there are no plans for Sun City to provide transportation to its residents, she said.
