PEORIA (25News Now) – The Peoria City/County Joint Commission released its 2023 annual report this week, and it showed plans to address racial inequities in parts of Peoria including the city’s south side.
Among other needs, the report indicates Peorians on the south side face significant barriers with transportation and the ability to get around safely.
“Being in this wheelchair and everything, transportation is really hard,” said resident Nickolas Polk. “It’s tough for me to try to afford transportation and afford everything else.”
Some barriers listed include a lack of availability to be picked up at bus stops and inaccessible sidewalks to those using wheelchairs, canes and walkers.
Commission co-chair Tim Bertschy and more than 100 area leaders are working to implement solutions to close gaps in underserved communities.
“It’s making sure that people feel safe as they are navigating. Whether they are driving in their car and are walking and using our roads and our sidewalks,” said Andre Allen, the county’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and a Peoria City Council member.
“Another safety concern was lighting. We are going to be addressing street lighting this upcoming year,” Allen said.
The 2022 report showed Black Peorians are six times more likely than white Peorians to use public transportation. Their statistics also showed that 76% of Peoria County public transit users are Black.
In one of the planned programs, healthcare and manufacturing students at Illinois Central College could receive financial help for transportation.
Bertschy said the commission is working to provide more affordable and better internet bandwidth for everyone in the county, and its working on a youth treatment court to help juveniles avoid incarceration.
“Assuring that my fellow citizens all have the same chance at life, a chance at income, a chance at financial success that everyone else does, it’s fundamental in my mind to what it’s about to be a human being,” Bertschy said.
The commissioners are scheduled to present the full 28-page report to the city council later this month.
They said it’s a lengthy report designed to be long-term and incorporate a diverse network of partners.
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