Village to Enter into Deal With Pace, Implement Parking Study Changes

After public comment and the tabling of a resolution regarding the boundaries between Downers Grove and Lisle during Tuesday night's council meeting, the focus of the meeting became vehicular.

The first item discussed was an agreement with Pace to purchase commuter bus services.

Village Manager Dave Fieldman said that they were very pleased to present this item, and that “this is many years in the making.”

There was little discussion about the issue, mostly congratulations and “thank yous” to all the people who had worked on this deal.

The village would provide the bus service and Pace would pay the village up to $261,678  in a 12-month period.

The village will function as an independent contractor for Pace and will operate four fixed routes with a regular schedule.

Pace will provide the buses and other necessary equipment.

Later, Public Works Director Nan Newlon presented a first read item that would, if passed, implement Phase 1 of the parking study recommendations.

The village would change free downtown commuter parking from starting at noon to 11 a.m..

And, based on a count of accessible parking spots available, the village found they need to add 11 more handicap accessible spaces in downtown lots to be compliant with the Americans with Disability Act.

According to the act, for every 25 parking spaces, there has to be 1 accessible one, Newlon said.