Paratransit Service

• Daytime fares — $1 per one-way trip (exact change required)
• Electronic Passes may be purchased from the drivers or the Paratransit office. Any amount in  increments of a $1.00 can be added to an electronic pass. 
• A standard fare of $5.00 per one-way trip (exact change required) will be charged for any trip that begins in any township in Knox County connected to Galesburg Townships and ends in any of the Knox County townships connected to Galesburg Township. These include the townships of: Henderson, Sparta, Knox, Orange, and Cedar. Return rides will be charged at the same rate.

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• 4th of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• Christmas Eve

Applications for Paratransit Service may be obtained by stopping by the City of Galesburg Transit office or by request over the telephone by calling (309)345-3686 (Voice/TTY), or by clicking on the documents page listed above.

When scheduling a Paratransit appointment, please give your complete ORIGIN street address and the complete DESTINATION street address.

All appointments and/or schedule changes must be called in to the City of Galesburg Transit office. Paratransit drivers do not take any appointments for pickups, or schedule changes aboard the vehicle.

• Cancellations

Cancellations should be made as soon as possible by calling the City of Galesburg Transit office at 309/345-3686 (Voice/TTY).

• Return Trips 

Requests for return pickups must be called in before 5:00 p.m. when the office closes unless prior arrangements were made for a late pickup time.

• Pick Up Times 

The rider must be ready within the 30 minute window of the time indicated by the reminder call or text. If the rider is not ready when the driver arrives, the driver will leave. The driver will not return for passengers who were not ready.

The Paratransit program does not provide escorts or Personal Care Attendants for riders. Riders needing any assistance must provide their own escort/PCA. Escorts/PCAs must be physically and mentally able to assist the rider.

Paratransit clients cannot act as escorts or PCAs for other registered Paratransit clients. One PCA is permitted to travel with a Paratransit rider. The PCA will be treated as a mobility device and will ride without charge.

Paratransit requires that eligible riders indicate the need for a PCA at the time of the certification. A family member or friend is regarded as a person accompanying the eligible rider and not as a PCA unless the individual is acting as a Personal Care Attendant. The person acting as a PCA must be physically and mentally able to assist the rider and be at least 12 years old.

Subscription trips are trips that are scheduled trips to one destination or a series of destinations that are written in as part of the daily and weekly Paratransit schedule.

Examples of subscription trips are dialysis, physical therapy, and trips to work or college classes.

These types of trips ordinarily do not have to be called in on a regular basis, however, we are limited under the ADA in the number of subscription trips we can accommodate on a daily basis. At times, new subscription trip requests will be added to a waiting list for the next available slot.

This does not mean that we will not provide transportation to the person making the request.

These trips will be accommodated, however, they must be called in on a weekly basis until a permanent slot becomes available.

When a permanent slot becomes available, the first person on the waiting list will be contacted.

• Children Using Paratransit Services

Children using Paratransit services as a registered rider must be accompanied by an adult. Child seats cannot be accommodated aboard the vehicles because of the configuration of the seats and seat belts.

• Transportation of Oxygen

Paratransit will only transport oxygen tanks that are secured to the back of a wheelchair or mobility device; or are the personal, portable oxygen units that hang from a strap. When reserving a Paratransit trip, please indicate the type of oxygen equipment you use.

• Rider Responsibility

Riders (or escorts) are responsible for their own personal belongings such as, but not limited to, luggage, oxygen tanks, parcels, and support equipment (i.e. walkers).

Riders are responsible for their own wheelchairs or mobility device. The Paratransit program does not provide wheelchairs for riders.

Riders are responsible for maintenance on their wheelchair or mobility device. Drivers do not repair or charge batteries on battery operated mobility devices.

Riders who exhibit violent or other extreme behavior and threatens the safety of the driver or other passengers will not be tolerated aboard the Paratransit vehicles. If the rider does not leave the vehicle voluntarily, the police will be called and individual will be removed from the vehicle.

Personal Care Attendants and escorts cannot ride without the client present.

Riders and their escorts/PCAs area asked not to smoke, use snuff or smokeless tobacco, drink, or eat aboard the Paratransit vehicle.

Riders are responsible for their own medications and paperwork. Drivers do not administer medications to riders or keep track of a client's paperwork.

• Wheelchair or Scooter 

Paratransit will transport a wheelchair and its user, as long as the lift can accommodate the size and weight of the passenger and the wheelchair, and there is space for the wheelchair on the vehicle. However, Paratransit is not required to carry a wheelchair if the lift or vehicle is unable to accommodate the wheelchair and its user, consistent with legitimate safety requirements according to the lift manufacturers.

• Service Animals 

Service animals are defined under DOT regulations as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animals individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability." Service dogs are transported aboard the Paratransit vehicle. Comfort or emotional support animals are also transported aboard Paratransit, however, if there is an objection to the "comfort animal" by either the passengers or the driver the rider may not take their comfort animal aboard. An example of this would be a pet boa constrictor, which others might find disconcerting to have to ride on the vehicle with them. For more information call the City of Galesburg Transit at 345-3686 during regular office hours.

• No Show Policy

Paratransit service will be suspended for a period of two weeks if an individual misses scheduled appointments 3 times during a 3-month period. This provision does not apply to trips that are missed for reasons that are beyond the individual's control. The rider will receive written notice of any action taken and the basis for the suspension.

The City of Galesburg Transit is committed to ensuring safe and efficient transportation for persons with disabilities, as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Any ADA transportation service complaints received by the City of Galesburg Transit will be immediately investigated and every effort made to seek an appropriate and prompt resolution. By promptly identifying deficiency areas, the City of Galesburg Transit will work to make the necessary corrections and/or adjustments to alleviate the situation. ADA transportation service complaints shall be submitted in writing on the agency's complaint form and returned to the Transit Manager at 1025 Monmouth Blvd. If you would like a copy of this form, or require additional information, you may call the City of Galesburg Transit office at (309/345-3638), or access the links to documents on this website.

The City of Galesburg Transit operates its programs and services without regard to race, color and national origin in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminator practice under Title VI may file a Title VI complaint in writing on the agency's complaint form and returned to the Transit Manager at 1025 Monmouth Blvd. If you would like a copy of this form, or require additional information, you may call the City of Galesburg Transit Office (309/345-3686), or access the links to documents on this website.

Staff members are always interested in answering any questions you may have and also appreciate written comments or suggestions regarding the provision of service.

Riders who have complaints regarding the service may contact the office for a complaint form. If the individual needs to have the complaint form in an accessible format, please specify the format needed at the time of the request. If the complaint is immediate, please contact the Transit Manager. All calls and complaints are held confidential unless the individual or individuals involved specify otherwise in writing.