The Illinois Department of Transportation recently celebrated the start of transit service in Henderson County by Warren County Public Transportation – a move that officially makes transit service available in all of the state’s 102 counties.
[Above photo by Illinois DOT]
Starting July 1, Warren County Public Transportation will expand its coverage area by offering on-demand service to the more than 6,000 residents of Henderson County.
Illinois DOT said this expansion will provide access to local and regional destinations, including meaningful connections to Galesburg and the Quad Cities, where riders can connect with passenger rail and air travel options.
Based in Monmouth, Warren County Public Transportation provides approximately 50,000 rides each year. With Henderson County added to the service area, annual ridership is expected to eclipse 60,000, Illinois DOT noted.
Plans for the service were developed through coordination between Illinois DOT, Warren County Public Transportation, the Rural Transit Assistance Center at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University, and local partners.
An additional annual investment of $225,000 through Illinois DOT’s Downstate Operating Assistance Program, which supports transit providers outside the Chicago area, will help cover the cost of daily operations.
The agency also provided eight medium-duty buses and four minivans worth a total of $1.34 million over a year ago that also helped increase the Warren County Public Transit fleet size so it could expand service into Henderson County.
“All Illinoisans deserve access to modern, reliable transit, and I’m proud to say that every county in the state of Illinois can now enjoy the mobility, connection, and opportunity that transit provides,” said Governor JB Pritzker (D) in a statement.
“Last year, I signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act to enhance our public transit systems, and I will continue to lead efforts that prioritize the commuters and travelers who rely on Illinois’ essential transportation infrastructure,” he noted.
“Transit can take many forms, from buses and trains in big cities to dial-a-ride service in rural communities,” added Gia Biagi, Illinois DOT secretary. “We’re proud to have worked with our local partners to provide an option to take transit in every county in Illinois.”
Across Illinois, the state’s rural transit providers accommodated approximately 3.3 million rides over the most recent fiscal year, Illinois DOT noted.
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