MCT opens new Eastgate Park & Ride Facility

New lot will serve busy bus route to Downtown St. Louis

A new parking facility serving one of the local transit system’s busiest routes opened for business this week.

Madison County Transit Trustees and staff, along with East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton, Madison County Board Member Robert Pollard, and Madison County Administrator Dave Tanzyus, celebrated the opening of the new MCT Eastgate Park and Ride Facility in East Alton Wednesday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The new facility is located on a 2-acre site just south of Eastgate Plaza on Illinois Route 3 in East Alton. The new MCT park and ride facility features 104 parking stalls, a brick passenger waiting building, driver restrooms and video surveillance. The #1X Riverbend Express, one of MCT’s busiest express bus routes to and from Downtown St. Louis, will serve the new facility. The #1 Riverbend, which operates between Alton, Wood River, East Alton, and Granite City will also stop at the site.

“Because of its ideal location and its popularity as a commuter lot, MCT has planned to construct our own park and ride facility near Eastgate for years,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “I want to thank the MCT Board, our staff, and all of the contractors for making that vision a reality.”

Construction of the Eastgate facility began last November. The $1.6 million project was funded through Federal Transit Administration 5307 funds, which paid 80 percent of the project cost ($1,276,800); MCT’s 20 percent local match was $319,200.

Bruce Unterbrink Construction was the general contractor. Subcontractors included MC Electric, Kane Mechanical, Groundworks, and Becker Masonry. The design team included Oates Associates, Arcturis, BRiC Partnership and Faith Group.

“MCT also extends our thanks to the owners of Eastgate Plaza for their ongoing support,” said Morrison. “Their cooperation has been critical.”

For more information about the No. 1X Riverbend Express to Downtown St. Louis or to learn more about any of MCT’s services, visit mct.org, email info@mct.org or call 618-797-INFO (4636).

From left: MCT Marketing Coordinator Ellie Carrow, Phillip Jones of Oates Associates, Bruce Unterbrink and Brian Willman of Bruce Unterbrink Construction, Madison County Board member Robert Pollard, MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison, MCT Assistant Project Manager Jon Martin, East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton, Madison County Administrator Dave Tanzyus, MCT Board Chairman Ron Jedda, MCT Board members Andy Economy and Kelly Schmidt, East Alton Village Clerk Lori Palmer, Tom Cissell of Oates Associates, MCT Director of Engineering Mark Steyer, MCT Director of Facilities Robert Schmidt, and MCT Director of Planning and Capital Projects Phil Roggio.