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1994-10-17 - Committee on Aging - Minutes _�...i . �.f , .. . `�, r•: , ' iVillage of Buffalo Grove � � � ,4� , '.`Joint Commission on Aging ' Transportation Meeting � ` Monday, October 17, 1994, 9 AM - 11 AM - � . Buffalo Grove Village Hall � � .� . . .,. . � : , , , _ . . , � {. r . � ,., •:. _ '*`. '� IN ATTENDANCE: - - ; r ,-� Y � Nancy Sass Scotillo,candidate for State Senate District 26;Kim Froelke,aide to - �� ::, ; Representative Verna Clayton of the State House District 51;Ellen Van De Merkt,Vernon �x� ' Township; Gina Sheade,Buffalo Grove Joint Commission on Aging;Marla Chorney, _ �� ` - Village of Buffalo Grove Commission for Residents with Disabilities;.Debby Holm, � Village of Buffalo Crrove Commission for Residents with Disabilities; Lee Szymborsld, ''�, Buffalo Grove Assistant Village Manager, Ruth Grundberg,Wheeling Township;JoAnne �� Schultz,Wheeling Township; Harriet Rubenstein,Chair of the Buffalo Grove 7oint Commission on Aging; Bob McNeely,Buffalo Grove Park District Commissioner; Eazl � ;Sabes, Chair of the Buffalo Grove Transportarion Commission; Enid Spector,Pace ` Paratransit Department Manager;Bill Peterson,Vernon Township Supervisor; Verna Clayton, State Representadve for District 51; Lauren Beth Gash,State Representarive for District 60;Phillip Versten,Administrative Assistant of the Village of Buffalo Grove. � �NTRODUCTION _ Dan Schimmel,Buffalo Grove Park District Program Director and Park District Liason to the 7oint Commission on Aging,provided a back ground overview on the purpose of this meeting, explaining that previous discussions and meetings with service providers, � coordinated by both the Joint Commission on Aging and the Commission for Residents � with Disabilides,had indicated that transit issues were a primary concern for target service °- . populations for both commissions. As such,the Joint Commission on Aging had --- coordinated this meeting in order to pool the resources, studies and findings of all agencies - � involved with the issue in order to exchange information and.share ideas in the interest of finding solutions. � REVIEW OF CURRENT TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS IN BUFFALO GROVE Mr. Earl Sabes provided an overview of findings of the Buffalo Grove Transportation � Commission to date on the issue. He reviewed a hand-out,which he distributed (attached). He indicated that as of the recent special census,approximately 8%of the Buffalo Grove population, 3200 people, are seniors. He stated that most of these live in MDU housing, consisring of multiple dwelling un�ts, such as apartments,town homes and condominiums. He stated that most of these people were fairly well off and independendy mobil, and so were not as affected by the issue as those seniors who lived with their adult children in our local subdivisions. He reviewed the taxi cab program started by his commission as one solution geared toward the problem. The program provides subsidized discounts on cab fares for seniors. He stated that the program was widely promoted upon its inception, and reviewed some of the statistics in his hand-out. He indicated that half of the rides taken . throughout the program's implementarion were taken by ten seniors. He stated that many � of the rides taken throughout the program have been short trips and have turned out to be nearly free, since the Village covers$2.50 of each ride,regardless of the length of the trip. He categorized the program as a little solurion to a bigger problem, since it is srill quite expensive to take a longer ride to a doctor's office,for example, or to some of the larger shopping malls in oudying areas. He stated that with some minor exceprions,the Townships'Dial-a-Ride systems are mostly limited to travel within township bounds. He stated that Pace has a service for wheel chair customers,but that it is not so wide in scope that it solves all of their transit problems,nor does it aclrnowledge the difficulries of people �� . � �,.� ` ;�� ;t +' `•.�` ', ;,x+�(o�a =,�`ee�'�y� ' {` t ,�5 �A� � �i�� {`�� "l2}� . �' ;it i 1 "`.f . - i�� C�3` s whose disabilities do not involve wheel chairs:�He estimated that there are perhaps 20 to � '� � ` � i`•; � n .� 40 residents-seniors and persons with disabilities-in the target market with real transit � � ` dilemmas. He stated that it is not economically possible for the Village or the Township � ' � � t��*i to fund and operate a van for that number of people. He pointed to Pace's cancelling of the �`�C� �;-- 6 9 0 bus route for lac k o f ridership as indicative of the lack of interest in public transit in " `"�'` � <� 3;f�,�'�' . general in the community,and that this route served as well the target populations for these''�' ��.� � � commissions. �� {a � ^ . , _ �� _ � . � - i>� �' �C�}�y '��: .. . . ` , / .:.. �.. . . �. � .. . ��. , . �. � �:, i ,. �, s ._ `, � .� k., _ . . ,��1�"�4: = � REVIEW OF NEEDS IN BUFFALO GROVE-INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILTI'IES : ,;� �� ;; Ms. Holm inquired as to whether it was possible for the two townshi s to arran e �_,��#� �� , . � P g `` : reciprocal ride agreements where they would cross township lines,especially in such cases ;��'� where riders needed to cross those lines for important transit needs, such as doctor visits, � � �� `��, . , � . etc. She also requested whether updated brochures could be given wider and more 1 rv �� r�c�+j� r�r' frequent publication and distriburion. She voluteered her committee as willing to receive � � =v�,l; and coordinate the informarion for the regular publication of their own brochure on the �� , ��i r �: subject. She also inquired as to whether the Wheeling Townstup bus services persons with � �;;; � ' disabilities or whether it was restricted to seniors. She was informed that it does in fact �' E ` ,' �; ` , ` service persons with disabilities. She staxed that this is the type of informarion that needs to ;'�t��«� ,�� , , be better promoted � ' , , , , , _ W , , : - ,. : ; � , - .� � : ,' .., �-. � . . ... . �� . , . � � _ . 'F �. ' REVIEW OF NEEDS IN BUFFALO GROVE-OLDER ADULTS A��^�:.� '.�. � z� ' �,4' � , f -: Mr. Schimmel stated that those seniors who frequent the pazk district's Alcott Center have ��'�� .� repeatedly expressed concerns about matters such as being able to get to a doctor's office � r�,p';"t��:y 4 �"" on the other end of town. He described the need for a creative solurion to be worked out �� °��'4,� between the townships as to reciprocal ride agreements,as the census data reflects a � '' � �'�Y�� r�. trending toward an increasing percentage of seniors, and that plans for solving the problem :` ,a�� rf,� should be considered now. - , . . � ,-� � . � � _� ',� ..: ' . . : k .L ��r . .� � .. . . � . ' . .. �� . .�. .� .� , . .,�'.�.' .�. . � . � � , ' . �. ..� ' . . � ..' . ,�� . . .. . .. . , '_.. .. '�. "�. . ,�7 ;-} �n ,'-r.y�� ,� „ STATUS OF TOWNSHIP EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS -VERNON � � _ �< i ,.;, -. � „ TOWNSHIP .., , Mr. Peterson stated that these same concerns regarding deficiencies have not been � expressed to the coordinator of their(Vernon Township's) senior services,but that they `. , . will occasionally accomodate a request for a route variation,if given 24 hours in advance. He described the Vernon Township 24 Dial-a-Ride system that covers several major - shopping areas within Vernon Township,and that,depending on the circumstance,their � buses will occasionally come down to Dundee Road,and that they regularly drop off - seniors at the Buffalo Grove Pazk District's Alcott Center. He described Hawthorne - Shopping Center as a"hub"from which people can get on a bus and reach other points of \ � interest such as the College of Lake County,the City of Waukegan,and Condell Hospital � in Libertyville. He stated that scheduling doctors appointments would be a difficult arrangement for an operaring bus line of any kind. He stated that he is aware that some : people may like service later into the evening and on the weekends,but that it is not a economically feasible. He stated that most of the seniors within their service area are self- � sufficient,but that this does not mean we cannot do a better job of coordinating � information. He advised that some means be established by which infomzation is - coordinated among the various resources to explain all the options. * �TATUS OF TOWNSHIP EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SOLUTION -WHEELING TOWNSHIP Ms. Grundberg stated that Wheeling Township has two buses,with a third as a back-up, and have been working with several other townships around them, but that it is difficult to . provide exacring service to the few who request it. Ms. Schultz described the operaring and routing system of the Wheeling Township buses. She said that they do try to � . :;� . _ . _ ;� . ,, ` y �. �; �� 1'^tx b; rt a '�.� � . . �.:., A'e r ,.7 k"'s�� y�1p 2�� ,�'� a�ry.'�'`',��1 �+e�" ' �.�/ . . . v y �5,� �, sAstq. la- . SF7.4� �. � }Y �.f� �.�.,�A . # ;�� 1.� � � � . v ��. � { t� � � : Y+ s� � F �y�a. 5 � } �r � � �, .�`,:� � � ' accomodate�those people who indicat�that they have to be at a doctor at a specific time,but - that certain operational realities make that difficult She stated that they have contacted `nw doctors offices to ask that they be flexible with their appointment hours in order to make it �," � work. She indicated that they do cross township boundary lines for specific cases and � �d S�`�+ Y� � cited several examples of when they have done this,but suggested that bus mutes do not � � �� " �# - operate like a taxi cab service and some people may be required to wait for a while at a stop ."4 `�'�`.��'�� when a route variation is requested. The earlier the request is given in a 24 to 48 hour time ��` �`'��- ��'"��* period,the easier it is to accomodate. _ �f� �.,4+ Y . . . , � Y �•4 S,Jr�1Y -. .. . i :t�'. . . . . . . . . . . . . ��. E r �+. K,�y,,:. `� ��. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS/OTHER MODELS -PACE ;� ; :' . . � �� ` Ms. Spector stated that the taxi cab service,the dial-a-ride systems,and the willingness of � ` ��#.f. , the townships to cross township boundaries are all excellent examples of how these needs " ��x, : should be addressed. She offered several other scenarios in other communities. One such a ��`�' �� scenario in the Joliet area involved separate contriburions by the City of Joliet and by the -� ys� six suirounding townships in funding the deficit generated by the operation of a bus hne >' implemented to serve these types of needs. The bus line was operated by a private °k " contractor to whom Pace leased equipmen� In Bazrington,Pace also contracts with a R�.. �. , � private service provider. Although the Village of Bamngton has agreements with the �k.-.� .. : � � � surrounding townships and communities which also participate in the program, and serves q' : as the only funding source for that private contractor. Bamngton then bills the other .; :,t � :' ' governments participating in the program for reimbursement of deficit payments. She � "� ` �� ;agreed with earlier comments regarding the need for increased informarion flow,but k ` � �3 , r �: expressed that keeping the information fresh and updated will be a challenge. She cited � � ` several examples of how this turned out to be a challenge in the past due to changing f` � regulatory and rate structures,as well as shifting economic and operation a l re a l ities which „ ,,-` ��1," .j - required frequent changes to routes and schedules. She stated that the upcoming Pace � budget calls for a 20% expansion of services for persons with disabilities. She stated that� I ,although she sees no significant expansion in the budget for Dial-a-Ride,Pace is always : - � interested in hearing proposals such as that which may come out of a forum such as this. `: CLOSING COMMENTS_ . � . Mr. Szymborski stated that perhaps we need to consider in the future whether some of the ' perceived gaps in transit services are gaps in service or gaps in information. Prior to identifying where we can go,perhaps we need to better familiarize ourselves and our public - with what is available. - Ms. Chorney commented that, speaking from personal experience, the existing system - does not work for persons with di�abilities arid suggested a strong,coordinated informational effort by all. � Ms. Van De Merkt suggested that a volunteer pool be formed through a coordinated effort � by all agencies present to fill gaps where services fall short. � Mr. Peterson suggested that exisring services be promoted more often in the Village's - newsletter. Ms. Clayton suggested that, in addition to newsletters,those who aze chazged with answering phones at the agencies of those represented here today be kept up to date on the services available and that an ongoing dialogue on these issues,such as through a committee with that spec�c charge,would see to it that the information given to the people who answer phones and serve as the primary interface with the public is kept fresh and up to date. _ b =� w, , ," r' o�'� , f' t �,� I r` 4 �w,��, i Y� V :.-�t 7 � i t, t'��i � q�`�� r� �� r !� . �� s' "'�� -,� r � r �: , t � z�� ; 5 �iy� r o�. �.'!. ; � 'r � 1 �.1�-tif, S '�"",�t5 f� � It4:v �� . . . . t ��' : � ,� � ' 1. ��, `�M . . . _ , _ �x 5 '4-� 12 J ��F�^ - i. .. I� ♦ di 4�e,tFSkSa�� t t.,`r. . . _ - � . . �, ' . . '�' .�:�. ' . . . , ,� h:.l 11�s4 i"�S" S ti . � � "�- ' . �. �� . ' Ms.,Gash stated that her office would be ha � to assist m an mformational efforts that 5� i' 1 � PPY ��,"��>� �� , ��may emanate from this meeting. �a,. �s�°� � � � �; � � � � w�; t i, , �:,, �� , �s ` t � .w�� };:p':S ti i ° � q � � '�"�i� ' 4".b 1 �s�;, �,;�',� #��t�i., . � Mr. Schimmel su ested that members of thel :.. ,� ,�� ,, � � Sg commumry's Commissions invoIved here ti,�,ti ��w� a'�«� �` ' - today,as well as township, Village, and park district staff,meet at 9 AM on Monday ; ;��` . � � �'� October 24 at the Alcott Center to further discuss some of the ideas brought forth here �� a ;; � ,;� today. 4 , - �4` ��;�� —� ' rj�"'��. �� ;,�� x 't ''�.t . 2 ' C . . . h��f4,. � .t�... a� rlq� i b n . . . . . °C�$�� . .. . i . .�7�'� . t ... . -' �� , . , � t��{p'�,'� ' . . , .' ,�` , . t a y��,,h'�i�b` � � dF M��k.Y� ' t i. � -^t . �. '. . . . � . . �� . . ^ � d/ .J� � . 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