New MCT service changes take effect on May 8

 

From Illinois Business Journal news services

GRANITE CITY — Madison County Transit is making route and schedule adjustments designed to simplify the system, improve access to trip generators and enhance schedule reliability.

MCT held four public meetings in Collinsville and Granite City as well as an information session at the May Apartments in Edwardsville to discuss the changes, which take effect Sunday, May 8.

Highlights include:

– For schedule adherence, and route simplification, MCT will be splitting the No. 5 Tri-City Regional into two separate routes at Granite City Station: the No. Tri-City Regional will operate from Granite City Station to Emerson Park & Downtown St. Louis. The new No. 20 Granite City- Pontoon Beach Shuttle will operate from the Station to the Gateway Commerce Center.

– Likewise, the No. 15 Collinsville Shuttle will also be split into two separate routes at Collinsville Station: the No. 15 East Collinsville Shuttle and No. 21 West Collinsville Shuttle. The No. 15 will operate from Collinsville Station to Olive and Ohio, the No. 21 will operate from the Station to Collinsville Crossing on Illinois 157.

– A portion of the No. 7 Alton – Edwardsville known as the “Hillsboro Loop” will be removed from the No. 7 and will be operated by the No. 17 Edwardsville – SIUE Shuttle. Currently, the No. 7 makes a loop through Downtown Edwardsville, traveling on Hillsboro, St. Andrew’s, Vandalia and back to the Station. The No. 7 misses the pulse but the No. 17 can make the loop and return to the Station, improving transferability. Doing so, will reduce the frequency of the Hillsboro Loop from 30 minutes to hourly.

– To serve the Highland Pool during the summer months, northbound trips of the No. 14 Highland Shuttle will run on Lindenthal, Spruce, and Paris back to Poplar. Additionally, the routing of the No. 14 on Faith Drive will also be reversed to ease passenger boarding and alighting.

– Both directions of the No. 16 Edwardsville Shuttle will be re-routed onto Illini Drive in Glen Carbon to serve Sam’s Club at a common stop on Illini. Additionally, due to growing demand for greater frequency and better access, the No. 16 in both directions will deviate from Troy Road to serve the May Apartments off 5th Avenue in Edwardsville.

– Two timepoints will be added to the No. 18 Collinsville Shuttle at existing bus stops: St. Louis Road & Boskydells, and Collinsville Road and 37th.

Notable among the changes, is the increase in bus service to the May Apartments. Currently, MCT serves the residential complex twice a day, and the number of trips will increase to 13 at the coming change. Edwardsville resident Janine Cooper, whose son lives at the May Apartments and will be riding MCT on a regular basis to his place of employment, was one of many parents advocating for additional service at the apartments.

“The MCT System is a wonderful asset to Madison County and we appreciate the service,” said Cooper. “It means so much to have reliable transportation, especially to those who don’t drive or own a car.”
“We are pleased to be adding service to the recently expanded May Apartment Buildings,” said MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane. “The new trips will provide greater access to employment, shopping and other vital services for its residents.”

For specific schedule details, new timetables dated “May 8, 2016” will be posted online at www.mct.org and will be available at MCT Stations, on MCT buses and at locations throughout Madison County. For details about MCT services, call (618) 797-INFO (4636), visit www.mct.org, or e-mail info@mct.org.