CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the resolution authorizing the city manager to submit an application to the Regional Transportation Authority requesting a continuation of federal funding for the Ride DuPage to Work program
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Andrea Nair, Project Manager - Transportation
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Ride DuPage to Work program is a sub-program of the Ride DuPage program and began operation in March 2008. Ride DuPage to Work is designed to provide a reduced fare for seniors and people with disabilities to travel to and from work. It currently operates under a federal Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities grant that was secured in 2019 from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) through an application submitted by the City of Naperville on behalf of the Ride DuPage to Work Partners (City of Naperville, Naperville Township, Lisle Township, Wheatland Township, the Village of Glen Ellyn, the City of Wheaton, and Milton Township).
The Section 5310 grant provides a 50/50 split of trip costs taken under the program. Each local partner supports the grant by sharing the responsibility of a 50% local match to the grant award. Without the grant funding, Ride DuPage to Work trips would be fully funded by the local partners. Pace Suburban Bus functions as an additional partner by operating the service. In 2019, approximately 23,500 trips were taken through Ride DuPage to Work. In 2020, ridership was reduced to approximately 10,300. This decrease in ridership is likely entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that ridership will increase as the impact of the pandemic subsides.
In April 2019, the City responded to a Call for Projects from the RTA and submitted an application for additional grant funding. The City and its partners were approved for an award amount anticipated to provide an additio...
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