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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alex Voigt, Deputy Chief of Staff
DATE: February 20, 2025
SUBJECT:
A resolution to approve a service agreement between Kendall County and the City of Aurora for the provision of Demand-Response Transportation.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to gain City Council approval of a service agreement between the City of Aurora and Kendall County, specifically Kendall Area Transit, known as "KAT".
BACKGROUND:
In August of 2024, a representative of the Mayor's Office attended a Kendall County Mayors and Managers meeting. One of the items on the agenda was KAT funding. Kendall County staff provided a presentation on the services provided to Kendall County residents as well as the current financial status of the program. Part of the presentation included an "ask" of all communities with residents in Kendall County for financial support to sustain the program. All funds from communities make the program eligible for a match through the "Downstate Operators Assistance Program" (DOAP). Data was provided on the number of Aurora residents in Kendall County who utilize the service, along with the information that Aurora does not currently support the program financially.
Following the meeting, Aurora staff reached out to facilitate additional conversations with Kendall County. The item today represents staff's findings and recommendations.
DISCUSSION:
KAT is a demand-response transportation program to Kendall County residents. Kendall County is not part of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), therefore there is no transportation system outside of KAT. In 2023 the program cost approximately $1.6M, funded heavily through grants and the DOAP. Total trips from the start of 2024 to the August meeting were 20,326.
The information provided by the county reported that according to the 2020 Census, the City of Aurora represents 4.51% of Kendall County's population, the 8th largest. Of the fourteen municipalities in Kendall County, eleven currently contribute to KAT. The demand for transit continues to grow, which prompted the request from the County to communities that benefit.
The city's support of KAT would be in addition to the program run through Senior and Disability Services, City of Aurora Ride Solution (C.A.R.S.). The C.A.R.S. program did not support any riders from Kendall County, presumably due to the long-standing reliability of KAT. For example, the C.A.R.S. program had a ridership of 6,544 from the start of the program in 2023 through September of 2024, just from Kane and DuPage County's. KAT had a total of 5,515 rides from July -- December of 2024 just in the Aurora portion of Kendall County alone, with a typical annual ridership of over 9,000. Additional data on Aurora-specific ridership may be found in Attachment A.
Eighteen of the twenty-three buses used for KAT meet the age for disposition and there are not enough buses or drivers to meet the demand. The program also must turn away approximately 130 requests per month, the current lack of funding does not support expansion.
The request from Kendall County was based on ridership, they provided a graduated funding model over the course of three years. The 2025 contribution would be $4,457, 2026 at $8,913 and 2027 at $13,370. The formula was based on the annual operational contribution of $2.25 per capita. After meeting with the Kendall County team and reviewing the information, city staff opted to request the full $13,370 to support the County with their DOAP allocation. Funds for this program will be charged to account 101-1372-440.50-80. The spreadsheet outlining the community contribution requests is included in Attachment B.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Approval of this funding allocation will have a positive impact on Aurora residents in Kendall County's ability to access low-cost, reliable transportation. Disapproval of this request could lead to reduced transit options and at some point, the elimination of KAT altogether.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff respectfully request support for this resolution.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution approving a service agreement between the City and the County of Kendall for the provision of Demand-Response Transportation through 2027.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the County of Kendall has agreed to operate a demand-response transit system known as Kendall Area Transit ("KAT"); and
WHEREAS, KAT provides low-cost, reliable transportation options for Aurora residents in Kendall County; and
WHEREAS, Aurora has not previously provided financial support for this program; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act allow for public agencies including municipalities and counties to jointly exercise any power or powers, privileges, functions, or authority available to them except where specifically and expressly prohibited by law; and
WHEREAS, Aurora's financial support of KAT will allow the program to utilize additional of matching funds available through the Downstate Operators Assistance Program (DOAP);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the attached agreement shall be and hereby is approved.