DIXON — Reagan Mass Transit District will expand service into Whiteside County on July 1, creating a transportation network that spans Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties. The expansion will bring Whiteside County Public Transportation into the district and is expected to increase annual ridership from more than 91,000 trips to over 130,000 trips. Executive Director Greg Gates said the move will improve access to services across the region.
“I think it gives everybody within those walls of Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties even more opportunities to get to different shared resources within that district. So, if you’re living in Sterling or Rock Falls and need to get to a resource in your neck of the woods in Rochelle, that’s something that we can facilitate quite easily in terms of route management with our vehicles, whether it’s a minivan or a bus,” Gates said.
Current users of Whiteside County Public Transportation are expected to see few changes in service, although a new fare structure will replace the county’s voluntary donation system on Aug. 3. Reagan Mass Transit District officials said existing scheduling procedures will remain in place and many current drivers will continue serving riders after the transition.
