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Expanded times, destinations pitched for bus service in central Lake County

A proposed expansion of bus service in the Mundelein area would provide a greater selection of times and destinations for seniors and those with disabilities.

The new service would involve a partnership among Libertyville, Fremont and Shields townships, as well as the villages of Libertyville and Mundelein. The idea is being presented to those entities with the hope of an early 2016 start.

"We're still in the process of getting concurrence," said Ashley Lucas, senior planner with the Lake County Division of Transportation. The service would be offered to people 60 and older, or those with a disability, and would be funded by a federal grant to be matched by the county for a total of $327,950.

Generally, bus service in Lake County "looks very different depending on where it is," Lucas said. Some townships operate their own system and others contract through Pace suburban bus servce. In this case, the partners would build on existing service, she said.

In Fremont Township, for example, Pace buses operate from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The expanded service is proposed to operate every weekday, from 5:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

The added service would not be a fixed route, but riders could call to have their destination added on a given day. Riders from Fremont Township, for example, would be able to get to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.

"This would open things up for them," said township Supervisor Diana O'Kelly, who added residents would be able to travel further east than is currently possible. "We have an aging population in Fremont Township."

The initiative is being advanced by Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services, a coalition of government officials, advocacy groups and others working toward "borderless" transportation in the county. It is headed by Libertyville Township Supervisor Kathleen O'Connor, who has been making the rounds for the proposed service - she presented Wednesday to the Fremont Township board and Thursday to her own board. The village of Libertyville and Shields Township officials are next on the list.

O'Connor said the current setup includes Libertyville, Mundelein and portions of Libertyville Township, and the contract with Pace allows only for trips within that geographic area.

"Someone in Libertyville Township can get to the Hawthorn mall, but they would have to walk across the street to get to the Target," she said. The new service would expand the geographic reach and longer hours would allow someone use public transportation to and from a first shift job, she added.

"We're making sure we're presenting to all the boards so they know where were at in the process," she said.

Expanding the service would require all five entities agree on the parameters.

@dhmickzawislak

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