Agencies
Services
Seek to expand equitable rural, suburban, urban, and regional transit access for older adults and individuals with disabilities; establish a State Interagency Transportation Coordination Commission; and enhance and sustain a skilled, inclusive public transportation workforce to improve mobility and service equity for people of all ages.
Ensure the work of the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure encompasses the unique transportation needs of older adults and utilize the final report (scheduled to be released to the Illinois General Assembly in January 2026) as a resource for shaping transportation and workforce needs to ensure that mobility and access are addressed for the state’s aging population. (Short-term)
Identify service gaps and barriers by drawing on existing assessments of transportation access barriers for older adults and people with disabilities, attending to inequities across groups (race/LGBTQIA+/immigration status), and work to expand rural, suburban, urban, and regional transit access for older adults and individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. (Short-term)
Encourage participation in the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) program to improve knowledge-sharing, identify service gaps and deserts, and strengthen communication across human and public service sectors. This includes engagement from IDOT, IDHS, HFS, the Secretary of State, Area Agencies on Aging, regional transit authorities, regional planning organizations, managed care organizations (MCOs), and human service providers to build a unified voice and advance shared goals. (Short-term)
Work with the Secretary of State’s office to support older persons in driving, safe driving, and resources that could support older people’s travel. (Short-term)
Explore, research, and consider Medicaid coverage of ride-sharing options for non-emergency medical appointments. (Mid-term)
Explore opportunities for cross-training and cross-agency driving to fill gaps, such as school bus drivers who might take a shift driving a transit bus between morning and afternoon bus routes. (Mid-term)
Work to establish metrics to track improvements in service coverage, reliability, and user satisfaction among older adults and people with disabilities. (Mid-term)
Streamline the certification process required for public transportation providers to deliver rides for Medicaid and MCOs. (Long-term)
