Latest news with #RMTD
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Transcript: Talk-Line with Steve Marco interviews Greg Gates, Reagan Mass Transit District
Apr. 29—Read the transcript from our Talk-Line interview featuring the Executive Director of the Reagan Mass Transit District, Greg Gates. Gates discusses a transit desert study on local public transportation needs in association with Northern Illinois University, continuing work on bringing daily regular city routes to Dixon and Rochelle, and work on the new transit center for Ogle County in Oregon. Other topics include the start of transportation through RMTD for rural Winnebago County and the first "Fore! Wheels Golf" fundraiser coming up June 19 at Lost Nation. Like what you hear? Be sure to visit WIXN, part of Shaw Local Radio. We're also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Shaw Local Radio Podcast: Talk-Line with Steve Marco interviews Greg Gates, Reagan Mass Transit District
Apr. 29—Listen to "Talk-Line: Greg Gates, Reagan Mass Transit District" on Spreaker. The TALK-LINE interview for April 29 featured the Executive Director of the Reagan Mass Transit District, Greg Gates. Gates discusses a transit desert study on local public transportation needs in association with Northern Illinois University, continuing work on bringing daily regular city routes to Dixon and Rochelle, and work on the new transit center for Ogle County in Oregon. Other topics include the start of transportation through RMTD for rural Winnebago County and the first "Fore! Wheels Golf" fundraiser coming up June 19 at Lost Nation. Like what you hear? Be sure to visit WIXN, part of Shaw Local Radio. We're also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Serving Lee and Ogle counties, Reagan Mass Transit District adds six vehicles to fleet
Mar. 25—DIXON — The Reagan Mass Transit District in Dixon has added six new vehicles to its public transportation fleet. RMTD Executive Director Greg Gates said the four medium-duty Ford buses and two minivans will help to replace some of RMTD's aging vehicles, some with over 300,000 miles on them. He said RMTD has been waiting four to five years for these vehicles for two reasons. "First, the pandemic hit at about the time that we submitted these, and shortly thereafter, production got backed up," Gates said. "At the same time, the state was going through a process of updating the vehicles on its contract. So, it was a mixture of pandemic production issues and also the contract with the state of Illinois that delayed this entire process." The RMTD is a public transportation district primarily serving communities in Lee and Ogle counties. It also takes customers to appointments in Rockford, Sycamore and DeKalb and offers fixed-route bus services and demand-response curb-to-curb services. Gates said that in fiscal year 2024, the RMTD provided 93,342 rides and its buses traveled over 750,000 miles. The RMTD is funded through local taxes, state and federal grants, and passenger fares. The district receives funding from several programs administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, including the Federal Transportation Administration's 5311 program, the Downstate Operating Assistance Program, 5311F funding for intercity routes and the Downstate Capital Improvement Fund. It also relies on local matching funds and private donations. Gates said the new vehicles were paid for using a combination of federal and state funds through IDOT's consolidated vehicle procurement process, in which transit agencies statewide request new vehicles. "We will have a lien by IDOT against those vehicles for their useful life, which could be years or miles," Gates said. "Once those miles or years have been met, we can ask for the disposal of those vehicles, and then they become our own, or we can sell them." The RMTD initially requested 10 vehicles but was finally approved for six. However, Gates said the RMTD also received four "transfer" vehicles. "There are other nonprofits or transit agencies that may no longer need one of their vehicles," Gates said. "So, they will ask IDOT if they can find somebody who would have use for it. The four transfer vehicles we received had some miles on them, but they were still in good shape, and we're utilizing them in our system." The RMTD charges the following fares: * Individuals 5 and under: $1 for in-town, one-way trips and 35 cents per mile for out-of-town trips. * Individuals ages 6-59: $2 for in-town, one-way trips and 35 cents per mile for out-of-town trips. * Individuals ages 60 and older, veterans and people with disabilities: $1 for in-town, one-way trips and 35 cents for out-of-town trips with a $5 cap for one-way trips. "Additionally, every fourth Friday of the month, we do a Fare Free Fourth Friday," Gates said. "If you want to take a ride, you call and schedule it, and on that day, we don't charge anybody anything. It's our way of allowing people to get a feel for it and a greater understanding of what we offer." The RMTD office is located at 210 E. Progress Drive and provides service from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 815-288-2117.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rockford Mass Transit gets $39.4M for electric buses and charging stations
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Mass Transit District will receive $39.4 million from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Grant program to expand its capacity for electric and hybrid buses, and the infrastructure to charge them. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Tom McNamara, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Acting Secretary Gia Biagi, and Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) were on hand at Friday's press conference, celebrating the ongoing construction efforts. The funding for the project was awarded by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Pritzker said $32.6 million will be used to renovate the current vehicle storage and maintenance facility, at 520 Mulberry Street, to accommodate current and future vehicle storage needs, and the charging infrastructure to support battery electric vehicles. An additional $6.8 million will fund new alternative fuel buses and vehicles. 'The investment in Rockford's transit infrastructure is a game-changer for our community. Expanding and modernizing RMTD's facility will not only improve efficiency and service but also position us for a more sustainable future with electric vehicle integration,' said McNamara. 'We're proud to partner with RMTD and the State of Illinois to enhance transportation options for our residents.' Gov. Pritzker added, 'With funding from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Grant Program, these facility upgrades are supporting reliable transit and accelerating sustainable economic growth here in Rockford and across Winnebago County. Our state and local partnership is more important than ever, as the White House is withholding crucial infrastructure dollars and preventing progress on projects across the nation. In Illinois, we are fighting to ensure we get every dime so we can deliver to our people what they're owed.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Pritzker celebrates $32M Rockford project, warns White House is withholding funds
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was in Rockford on Friday to celebrate the $32 million expansion of the Rockford Mass Transit District downtown bus station and garage. The 18-month project that broke ground in November is being paid for from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, a $45 billion capital improvement program. The program is also paying for the planned restoration of passenger train service to Rockford and the $58 million reconstruction of Alpine Road among others. "You know, when you're driving and you see an orange cone on the road and you're thinking 'I got to slow down for the orange cones,' I just want to remind you, first, I'm sorry," Pritzker said. "But I'm not really sorry because we really are rebuilding and modernizing everything. I mean every road, bridge and everywhere we can, we are sending money to local communities so they can make decisions about where you want to invest in your local roads." The RMTD's administration, operations and maintenance facility at 520 Mulberry St. is being expanded by about 50,000 square feet. It will be capable of accommodating more buses and be equipped to recharge electric buses. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said improving public transportation in the city will help improve lives. And as of Feb. 1, anyone enrolled in Rock Valley College, Rockford Career College, Rockford University, NIU Rockford, Judson, Rasmussen, U of I College of Medicine, OSF Nursing only has to show a valid student ID to ride Rockford's fixed route service free of charge. "That investment is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Rockford's infrastructure and ensuring that all residents have access to safe, modern and efficient public transit," McNamara said. "And it is ensuring that we work to remove barriers to our residents so that they can better themselves and their families." More: Rockford extends free public bus rides to college, adult high school students During his comments, Pritzker said the Trump administration is withholding infrastructure funds allocated to Illinois and other states by Congress. Pritzker said he is fighting for every dime the state of Illinois is owed for infrastructure repair and improvement from the federal government. Prizker said that it is unlawful for the administration to interfere with funds allocated by Congress. "The White House is withholding crucial infrastructure dollars and preventing projects from progressing across, not just the state of Illinois, but across the country," Pritzker said. "It is happening in red states and blue states. Projects have been pulled. And just in Illinois that means $826 million that were allocated to improve Illinois' roads and transit bridges and rail lines from the federal government are being delayed — potentially unlawfully eliminated — we don't know. That is the chaos and confusion that has come out of Washington. I mean, they ought to just tell us what they intend to do, but right now it's just a mystery." Pritzker said that dismantling the U.S. Department of Education could have consequences for special education in Illinois and across the country. He said reasonable people can disagree about whether there should be a Department of Education or if it is being run efficiently. But he said the true motive behind its dismantling is to save money to fund an enormous tax cut for the rich. It's clear they're looking to find places to make significant cuts to cover $4.5 billion, perhaps more, for a massive tax cut for the wealthiest Americans," Pritzker said. "That doesn't seem right to take the money away from middle class, working class parents and their children in public schools, especially those most in need, and to hand it over to the wealthiest people in the country. That's wrong and that is what I object to." Pritzker said that theoretically the Belvidere Assembly Plant should have an advantage as tariffs are implemented because it is located in the U.S. But he said manufacturing is so interconnected, that some parts are shipped in from out of the country or shipped from the U.S. to another country for finishing before being shipped back. Those tariffs will show up when Americans go to buy cars. "People who voted for Donald Trump, I think expected — because he said so — prices will come down on Day 1," Pritzker said. "We are on Day 65, he's now promising prices are going to go up. I think that is a massive broken promise that we ought to be reminding the American people about. And most importantly, they should be reminding Congress, Republicans in Congress, and the president, that they need to reverse.' Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@ and on X @jeffkolkey. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Pritzker celebrates Rockford project, but warns federal funds delayed
