May 6, 2022
Introducing Ride Lake County!
Today, Lake County, Pace Suburban Bus and the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee (LCCTSC) came together with members of the community to celebrate the launch of Ride Lake County, a borderless, countywide paratransit service that provides transportation to anywhere in Lake County for seniors ages 60+ and people with disabilities.
This ceremony recognized more than 15 years of steadfast work by various communities, townships, transit partners and community groups to make this service a reality. Previously, there was no cohesive paratransit system in Lake County. Now, residents in need of paratransit services have one number to call, 1-800-201-6446, to enable them to travel around Lake County.
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, Division of Transportation Director Shane Schneider, Pace Chairman Rich Kwasneski, Pace Director representing Lake County Lindo Soto, and LCCTSC Chair Kathleen O’Connor shared about how much work community partners have put in over the years to achieve this day and about all the Lake County residents this service will help.
"Ride Lake County will allow seniors and those with disabilities the ability to travel to where they need to go across the county and in some cases, beyond," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "This borderless, seamless transportation system will enable people to get to where they need to go for work, shopping, doctor's appointments, or any other location."
“As we reimagine public transportation to better meet the diverse needs of those we serve, strong partnerships like the one we have with Lake County will be the key to our recovery and helping our region thrive,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
A ribbon cutting introduced one of the many Pace vehicles now part of the Ride Lake County fleet. At the end of the ceremony, attendees were invited to take a tour of the vehicle.
“In addition to celebrating the launch of Ride Lake County and a new, accessible vehicle for the service, Pace is pleased to present an additional investment of $200,000 on top of a 15% increase in Pace’s share of Ride Lake County funding this year,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. “We have no doubt that these funds will positively impact residents of Lake County and we look forward to continued collaboration on improving mobility and access for those we serve.”
“Many thought that improving the paratransit service from one end of Lake County to the other was mission impossible," said Kathleen O'Connor, LCCTSC Chair. "We are here today to show that through perseverance and hard work, the impossible became the possible."
As a reservation based program, Ride Lake County vehicles don’t travel in a fixed route each day. Instead, riders schedule their trips in advance and the vehicles provide curb-to-curb service from the rider’s desired pick-up and drop-off destinations.
Before scheduling their first ride, residents must register through Pace by calling their call center at 1-800-201-6446. Residents can register as either a senior ages 60+ or as an individual with a disability.
Riders can schedule a trip any day of the week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of certain holidays. Riders can reserve a trip as far as seven days in advance or as little as two hours in advance.
Ride Lake County is sponsored by Lake County and Pace Suburban Bus. The service is funded in part by grants from the Regional Transportation Authority. Local matching funds for these federal grants are provided by Lake County.
For additional information about Ride Lake County, visit lakecountyil.gov/RLC.
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