ROCHELLE — The Lee-Ogle Transportation is currently conducting a study on the feasibility of a potential scheduled bus route in the City of Rochelle and has been holding public meetings and gathering survey feedback on the topic. 

LOTS and RLS & Associates, its public transportation consultants, aim to evaluate options for fixed-route bus service to enhance access to workplaces, medical care, education, shopping, recreation, and more for residents in Rochelle. The project team wants to hear from a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, transit riders and non-riders, students, and anyone who values transportation as a vital community resource. A brief survey to gather information on the potential fixed bus routes can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/LOTS.

City of Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows and City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh spoke with the News-Leader on April 17 and said they hope to see the fixed bus route come to fruition in Rochelle.

“I think it will help lift peoples' quality of life,” Fiegenschuh said. “It's not just about getting to work, it's about getting to the doctor, going shopping and more. There are a lot of opportunities with it. Transportation is key to quality of life. I really hope they determine it's something that's feasible in Rochelle and I'd urge the mayor and council that we try to find some funding to help them if they ask for it. Because I do think it will greatly benefit residents.”

LOTS is publicly-funded and has not asked the city for funding help for the potential bus route. The project is still in the information-gathering phase. The eight-month study will be wrapped up in August and a final report will be made. There will be more opportunities for the community to provide input. In June, another community presentation will likely be held that will include draft routes and schedules. Fiegenschuh said the city may be interested in helping with a one-time funding contribution if asked, and if the mayor and city council approved it. The city manager said the potential bus route likely wouldn’t necessitate infrastructure improvements on the city’s part.

Bearrows said that the council is “always supportive” of programs that will benefit seniors and residents. He said that along with quality of life, a potential fixed bus route could help to improve safety in the city. 

“We have plants down on Wiscold Drive that folks ride their bikes to and they're crossing train tracks and in an area where there's truck traffic,” Bearrows said. ”They do it because they have to get to work. If we had this bus route, it could pick them up at one of the many stops in town and get to their job without any risk of getting hit on a bike trying to come down Illinois Route 251 or Wiscold Drive. Safety is a key element along with quality of life. This is something we as a city have to help with to try to help our residents. I'm all for it. My first question was what the cost will be to the city. They just wanted to talk for the study and weren't asking for money.”

LOTS currently provides an advanced reservation-based, shared-ride public transportation system, operating Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The in-town fare is $2 ($1 for seniors, veterans and those with disabilities). The out-of-town fee is capped at $10 or $5 for the discounted categories. Getting into the fixed-route service would be new for LOTS. 

Public meetings covered where bus stops could potentially be located, how many routes there would be, what times the routes would take place, and what the cost would be, if there is a cost at all. Fixed bus routes are required to be ADA-compliant.

Bearrows said he’d like to see commercial and industrial businesses work with LOTS on a potential fixed bus route by sponsoring bus stops and possibly shelters for people waiting for the bus. 

During his time in a previous position in Rantoul, Illinois, Fiegenschuh saw a fixed-route system instituted that found success. He provided that experience and feedback to LOTS in a recent meeting.

“They interviewed me and I gave them specific locations,” Fiegenschuh said. “It needs to serve all residents. You want to focus on folks with disabilities and our seniors and people of low-to-moderate income. And I told them to temper their expectations in initial ridership. You have to get the word out about it. People go for groceries, to healthcare facilities, banks, The REC Center, parks, and downtown. It's not easy to figure out. It's a great opportunity for a lot of partnerships. I hope if they deem it as something that can be sustainable in our community, that we start small and work our way out.”