Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Sangamon/Menard Area Regional Transit service continues to be well-used, just six years after it began.

Kate Downing with “SMART” tells the Sangamon County Board an area of growth is an increasing number of rides given to people just trying to get to work.

“We have several clients — we have seven right now, seven young adults — who live at home, who will never be able to drive themselves, that use our service to go to work, if not every day, at least three times a week,” said Downing.  “We’re really proud of that.  That’s kind of bringing up the next generation, getting them used to riding rural transit.”

Of the 7,000-plus rides provided this year in Sangamon County alone, Downing says the majority were for medical appointments, but almost as many were not.  Trips generally lasted from 17 to 24 miles.  The service uses three drivers or more every day to complete all the appointments for rides, saying that pick-ups would be faster if more appointments were made in each community.  There are about an equal number of rides from both the western side of Sangamon County, to the eastern side.  Thousands of rides are had in Menard County, as well, but not nearly as many as Sangamon County, said Downing.

Downing said she’d like to see the service grow, but that’s going to need help, especially as the counts adds the new transit center, “The Hub,” in the downtown area, which Sangamon Mass Transit District also uses.

“We’d like to do a whole lot more,” said Downing, to the Sangamon County Board.  “I’d really like you to consider helping us to do a lot more.  We got…grant money for a building.  So, we’re going to be closer to The Hub, and it would certainly help get all of Sangamon County moving.”

No sort of action was taken Tuesday night.

The Sangamon County Board did approve applying for a $795,419 grant for a regional Planning Commission that also involves Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Springfield, the Village of Chatham, and the Springfield Mass Transit District, for a transportation study.

They also approved a $382,500 supplemental contract with Hanson Professional Services for design of “The Hub,” and another $42,000 to Hanson for construction engine of a SMTD building.