Peoria County is looking to transfer operation of its rural bus service to CityLink. Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports the CountyLink program will no longer provide service to residents in Chillicothe and Dunlap:
That’s because the 2010 census classifies those areas as urban instead of rural communities based on population growth. That negates grant funding for the county program. County Administrator Lori Curtis Luther says the transit program could continue without any reduction in service if the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District takes over operations:
“The plan we currently have in place does provide what is needed for those residents, and our intent was to have as low-impact to them as possible given the circumstances,” Luther says.
Luther says the County would still act as a pass-through for grant funding if the move is approved by both the County Board and CityLink for one year. Luther says the County is also applying for additional grant funding that could help continue bus service to Bartonville slated to end later this spring.