Campton Hills wants dial-a-ride

Campton Hills is all aboard Kane County's newest dial-a-ride program.

The village board this week voted 4-0 to apply for Ride in Kane, a low-cost transportation service for the area's elderly, disabled and low-income residents. If approved by the Regional Transportation Authority, the service could become available in a few months.

Village President Patsy Smith said she knows of only a few villagers interested in the service so far, but there definitely appears to be a need.

"It's not significant but there is a need," Smith told trustees at Tuesday's board meeting. "We'll have to try it out and see how it goes."

Qualified riders can call Ride in Kane for curb-to-curb transportation within the county and to some adjacent areas. Taxis, buses and other vehicles are then dispatched through a central call center. Riders are charged $3 for the first 10 miles of each trip, plus $1.50 for each additional mile.

Launched in February, the program is being funded through $2.4 million in federal grants and $1.7 million in matching grants from local social service agencies and municipalities, including Batavia and Elgin. Service levels depend on how much funding communities are willing to contribute to help cover the reduced fares.

For now, Campton Hills wants to contribute only $500 to the program, but that figure could change in coming years, depending on how well-received it is. Smith said the contribution is worth about 70 rides for villagers.

"We still have to determine the hours we're going to do this, how far and how often," Smith said. "It's pretty new everywhere, so it sounds like everyone's struggling with those same questions."