Palatine Township Transportation Program Stalls

The Township Riders Initiative Program (TRIP), which transports disabled and senior township residents to doctor appointments has been temporarily halted in because of a lack of funding.

Up until late October, Pace Buses transported Palatine Township residents to doctor appointments in portions of Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Maine, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wheeling Townships.

Rides to appointments at Stroger Cook County Hospital, Rush Presbyterian, Holy Family in Des Plaines, Lutheran General in Park Ridge and University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago also were provided, in addition to VA hospitals in Maywood, North Chicago and in Elgin.

But the program has run out of money for this year, and that means residents who have appointments in the areas served will need to find an alternate mode of transportation.

“The TRIP program has not been stopped, but temporarily curtailed; because we have provided the service for such a high volume of people, Palatine Township has used up its allotment for the program,” said Paul Pioch, Palatine Township administrator.

Palatine Township, along with Wheeling, Schaumburg, Elk Grove and Hanover Townships, collectively share funding provided by the state through PACE.

“The good news is we have been able to help a lot of people in the township with transportation already this year,” Pioch said.  

Additional funding for the TRIP program is expected in January 2012, and the township is hopeful the state will make good on its  pledge to continue supporting the service.

“We will be waiting and seeing; I am hoping TRIP continues because it is a wonderful program,” said Shirley Gillespie, Palatine Township transportation coordinator.

Gillespie said TRIP has been available for the last five years, and is a great help to elderly and disabled residents who have difficulty getting to important appointments. 

There are about 600 Palatine Township residents who utilize the TRIP program, Gillespie said.

Despite the temporary interruption of the TRIP program, there are other services that township residents can take advantage of.

Monday through Friday, transportation to doctor appointments in Palatine Township is provided between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Township residents are required to call the township three business days prior to the appointment date to schedule a ride on one of three township mini-buses.

Each bus seats 15 people so space is limited. Residents who have appointments in Arlington Heights can also get a ride to doctor appointments each Tuesday.

As far as the anticipated reinstatement by the start of the new year, the township is hopeful.

“Everyone knows the state is having a difficult time with funds, but we absolutely anticipate reinstating the program and have heard nothing to the contrary from the state,” Pioch said.

For more information, call Palatine Township at (847) 358-6907 or visit their website at www.palatinetownship.com.

Palatine Township is made up of a 36 square mile area which includes Palatine, Inverness, and portions of Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows.

It is bordered on the north by Lake Cook Road, the south by Central Road, the east by Wilke Road and on the west by Huntington Boulevard.