Western Kenosha County Transit likely facing funding changes

A Western Kenosha County Transit bus at the Community Library, Salem.

How Western Kenosha County Transit will be funded for the coming year is a little more vague than it has been in the previous three years of the service.

In the past, the program has been funded through a federal grant program that provided 80 percent federal and state funding with a 20 percent match. That program was a pilot instituted by the federal government to test the viability of public transportation in rural areas.

Western Kenosha County Transit operates fixed stop and door-to-door transit service for the general public six days a week West of the I. Some of the routes also go to Lake Geneva, Antioch and Kenosha.

For 2011, the program was prepared to transition to a 65 percent grant/35 percent local funds funding program, explained Carolyn Feldt, a manager at Kenosha County Aging and Resources Center, which administrates the program for the county government.

However, unexpended funds for the pilot program mean WKCT might be able to get additional funds for 2011 to lessen the amount it needs to match. The county will have to apply for the additional funds by Sept. 10.

In the end, state officials have told the local service that WKCT likely will receive more grant funding than originally thought for 2011, but less than what the system currently receives, Feldt said.

“We don’t really know how much is available,” Feldt said.

For 2011, about $35,000 of Western Kenosha County Transit’s funding came from the county.

With the possibility of a need for greater local funding contribution, the system may need to make some adjustments to its service. To that end, a meeting to gather feedback on service revisions is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Sept. 2, at the Salem Community Library, Highways AH and 83.

The service is also anticipating a change to the cost of an unlimited monthly pass, Feldt said. The pass, which allows unlimited rides, will now cost $20. It had cost $10 for the previous three years of the service.

Daily rates will remain at $2 per ride for fixed routes and $3 for door-to-door.

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  1. Grant says:

    I’m a little confused, “The service is also anticipating a change to the cost of an unlimited monthly pass”, Feldt said. The pass, which allows unlimited rides, will now cost $20.
    When will this “anticipated” change of the monthly pass cost begin? 2011? If the new cost begins “now” (as written) then there is no anticipated change as it’s already happened.
    The meeting time is also very convenient for those of us who work regular business hours.

    1. admin says:

      Sorry I wasn’t clear. The change in monthly pass price would take effect, if finalized, for 2011. — Darren

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