Sugar Grove approves paratransit pact

The Sugar Grove village board approved a resolution Tuesday to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with local taxing bodies to participate in Ride in Kane, the countywide paratransit program that began in February.

The village of Sugar Grove, Sugar Grove Township, the Sugar Grove Public Library and the Sugar Grove Park District have each agreed to contribute $1,000 to the program. The $4,000 will be doubled with matching funds.

Ride in Kane provides transportation services for senior, disabled and low-income persons in Kane County through Pace Suburban Bus. It is funded with $2.4 million in federal grant funding through the Regional Transportation Authority, and with $1.7 million in so-called "Phase I" partners. The partners are townships, municipalities and social service agencies within Kane County.

The township and village of Sugar Grove will become Phase II partners in the spring or summer of 2009, allowing Sugar Grove residents who qualify to become registered riders.

Ride in Kane had been a topic at various times when the village board met as a committee as a whole.

Village board trustees stated they considered Ride in Kane a good program, but were unsure of the need within the village and township. No comprehensive surveys assessing need have been completed.

Joe Wolfe, who has been the village's liaison to the county's paratransit committee for five years, declined to comment on the amount of the contributions at Tuesday's meeting.

"I think it's a start," he said. "They recognize that there is a need in Sugar Grove. I think as the year goes on (with registered riders) there will be more and more interest. Participation in the program can be expanded."

"The village and the township will have to take the lead," Wolfe added. "You can't expect the library and the park district to fund the program. But it's good that they have acknowledged the program's existence and have started to fund it. That's the hardest part."