Sugar Grove considering Ride in Kane

The village of Sugar Grove will launch a survey this summer to find out how many residents could benefit from Ride in Kane, a centralized countywide call center that provides low-cost rides to seniors, the disabled and low-income residents.

The village is considering committing to the program, which would require it to come up with funding that would be matched with federal funds.

The program was launched Feb. 15 with $2.4 million in New Freedom Initiative and Job Access Reverse Commute federal grant funding from the Regional Transportation Authority. Ride in Kane will apply for more federal funding in August and plans to expand to include more municipalities, such as Sugar Grove.

Ride in Kane was developed after the Kane County Board formed a coordinating council in 2003 to study existing paratransit options and recommend improvements to service.

Sugar Grove resident Joe Wolf has served as a liaison to the council since 2003, but neither the village nor Sugar Grove Township has made the program available to residents.

Lynn O'Shea, president of Association for Individual Development -- one of the program's community service partners -- asked the village to become a government partner when she made a presentation to the village board April 15.

"We want you to consider joining," she said. "We want the rest of the county to become partners. We know there is a need in every community."

"It's a wonderful program," Wolf said. "I believe there is a great need here. I think it's time we stepped up and started the program here. I know funding is tight, but where there's a need, there's a way to fund it."

Partnering communities provide funding based on need and how the program is used. Ride in Kane could be limited to a certain population, or riders could be limited to use. Current funding from municipalities ranges from $1,000 to $200,000 annually.

Government partners include Aurora Township, Batavia (city and township), Dundee Township Partners, Elgin (city and township), Geneva (city and township), Hampshire, St. Charles and Kane County.

To provide a comparison on funding costs, O'Shea told the Sugar Grove village board that Hampshire, with a population of about 5,000, pays about $10,000 annually so that its residents can access the program. Sugar Grove has about 10,000 residents.

Ride in Kane is administered by Pace Suburban Bus and dispatches taxis, Pace lift-equipped buses and other vehicles to those who qualify for curb-to-curb service. The fare is $3 for the first 10 miles and $1.50 for each additional mile. About 70 percent of the rides provided take clients to jobs or medical appointments.

Village Clerk Cynthia Welsch will contact Sugar Grove schools, the park district and social service organizations to gauge the need for residents.

For more information or to report a need, call Welsch at (630) 466-4507, ext. 24.