All 102 Illinois counties covered by transit with expansion into Henderson County

BIGGSVILLE- The Illinois Department of Transportation joined local officials and community leaders today to celebrate the start of transit service in Henderson County by Warren County Public Transportation, making transit available in all 102 counties in Illinois. The new service reflects IDOT's continued commitment to improving mobility in rural communities and ensures that residents in every Illinois county have access to transportation options that connect them to healthcare, jobs, education, shopping and other essential needs.

"All Illinoisans deserve access to modern, reliable transit, and I'm proud to say that every county in the state of Illinois can now enjoy the mobility, connection, and opportunity that transit provides," said Gov. JB Pritzker. "Last year, I signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act to enhance our public transit systems, and I will continue to lead efforts that prioritize the commuters and travelers who rely on Illinois' essential transportation infrastructure." ​

Starting July 1, Warren County Public Transportation will expand its coverage area by offering on-demand service to the more than 6,000 residents of Henderson County. The expansion will provide access to local and regional destinations, including meaningful connections to Galesburg and the Quad Cities, where riders can connect with passenger rail and air travel to locations across the country and around the globe. ​

"Transit can take many forms, from buses and trains in big cities to dial-a-ride service in rural communities. We're proud to have worked with our local partners to provide an option to take transit in every county in Illinois," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. "Under Gov. Pritzker, Illinois continues to set the bar for expanding and modernizing transit no matter where you live." ​

Based in Monmouth, Warren County Public Transportation provides approximately 50,000 rides each year. With Henderson County added to the service area, annual ridership is expected to eclipse 60,000. Across Illinois, the state's rural transit providers accommodated approximately 3.3 million rides over the most recent fiscal year.

Plans for the service were developed through coordination between IDOT, Warren County Public Transportation, the Rural Transit Assistance Center at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University and local partners. An additional annual investment of $225,000 through IDOT's Downstate Operating Assistance Program, which supports transit providers outside the Chicago area, will help cover the cost of daily operations. IDOT also awarded eight medium duty buses and four mini vans for a total of $1.34 million over a year ago that also helped increase the Warren County Public Transit fleet size to expand into Henderson County. ​

Extending transit to every Illinois county is the latest achievement under Gov. JB Pritzker to strengthen service across the state. In December, Gov. Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act into law, marking a landmark action in modernizing the state's transit system. The law, which took effect June 1, creates a new regional authority to oversee Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace, while delivering significant investments in public transit, across the state without raising statewide taxes.

According to Argonne National Lab, each dollar invested in transit generates $13 in economic activity, highlighting the far-reaching impact of these investments.

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