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Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) is a provider of mass transportation in Southern Illinois, primarily serving Harrisburg, Marion, Robinson and Olney. Local fixed-route transit service is provided in these three communities, while additional demand-response service is available through the 17 county service area. The counties served include Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Lawrence, Pope, Richland, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson counties. As of 2019, the system provided 1,119,285 rides over 249,718 annual vehicle revenue hours with 137 buses. In FY 2024, the system provided 636,290 rides over 141,218 annual vehicle revenue hours.

History

In the early 1900s, public transit in Carbondale, Harrisburg and Marion was provided by streetcars. However, by 1933 these streetcar systems had all been replaced by buses. The beginning of the RMTD was in 1977, when the Rural Initiative Development of Effective Services (RIDES) began in Pope and Hardin counties, initially providing rides to nutrition centers. This service slowly expanded to three nearby counties, and in 1990, RMTD was officially formed as a Mass Transit District. Since that time, 12 more counties have joined RMTD.

Major changes came to the system came in the late 2010s, when in 2018 RMTD took over operations of the Saluki Express in Carbondale on June 11. This brought significantly more routes under the RMTD system, and allows SIU students greater access to RMTD services.

Eighteen days later the RMTD broke ground on a new transit center near the VA Medical Center in Marion. The $1.8 million facility includes a park & ride, a six bay covered bus loading area, indoor waiting area and real-time information displays. The facility opened on October 7, 2019, allowing access to RMTD services, South Central Transit and Greyhound Lines.

On March 1, 2023, the Wildcat Service began offering fixed-route transit within Marion. The new 10 stop route is intended to solve inadequate transportation, which is a major barrier to employment in the area. A partnership between RMTD and the city of Marion, five bus shelters were built alongside the service improvement, leading to an immediate increase in patronage of the RMTD buses.

RMTD operated Saluki Express service in Carbondale from 2019-August 2024 when Jackson County Mass Transit District took over operations.

Service

Rides Mass Transit District operates fixed-route services in three communities in Southern Illinois. Additionally, fixed-route service is provided between Carbondale and Marion, while local and intercity demand-response service is operated through the Southeastern Illinois service area. Regular fares for all the fixed-route services are $1.00.

Within Marion, the Wildcat Route provides service at 60 minute headways on weekdays from 6:00 A.M. to 5:45 P.M. and on Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 5:45 P.M. The Marion Crosstown route provides service at 60 minute headways six days each week. Within Harrisburg, the Bulldog Route provides service at 60 minute headways on weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 5:52 P.M. and at hourly headways on Saturdays from 9:00 A.M. to 4:52 P.M. The Marion-Carbondale Route operates with departures each hour on weekdays and every two hours on Saturday. Fixed Route service in Robinson, Illinois was established in August 2024 with 60 minute headways operating Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fixed Route service in Olney, Illinois was established in September 2024 with 60 minute headways operating Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

At the Bill Jung Transfer Center and Park-and-Ride in Marion, Illinois, the Wildcat Route, Marion Crosstown, and Marion-Carbondale route provide connections to South Central Transit.

Routes

• Bulldog Route (Harrisburg)
• Wildcat Route (Marion)
• Marion Crosstown (Marion)
• Marion-Carbondale Route
• Maroon Route (Robinson)
• White Squirrel Route (Olney)

Bill Jung Transfer Center

The Bill Jung Transfer Center is located at 2315 West Main Street in Marion. Opened on October 7, 2019, the facility features six bus bays and an indoor waiting area for passengers. It is served by the Wildcat Route and Marion-Carbondale Route of RMTD, as well as the Olive Route of South Central Transit. It was named to honor the 25 year CEO of RMTD.

Ridership

See also

• List of bus transit systems in the United States
• List of intercity bus stops in Illinois
• Carbondale station
• Jackson County Mass Transit District
• South Central Transit

References

1. "Routes by County". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
2. "RMTD Agency Profile" (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2023.
3. "Transit Systems in Illinois". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
4. "RMTD History". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
5. "Rides Mass Transit District enters agreement to run Saluki Express". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
6. "RMTD Breaks Ground On New Park-and-Ride Facility in Marion". WMIX 94. June 28, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
7. ^ "Rides Mass Transit opens first-ever transport hub in Marion". WSILTV 3. October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
8. Colin Baillie (February 28, 2023). "New Wildcat Service bus route expected to begin Wednesday in Marion". KFVS12. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
9. Joe Rehana (March 19, 2023). "New 'Wildcat' bus route offers fixed stops around downtown Marion". WSILTV 3. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
10. "Saluki Express". Rides Mass Transit. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
11. "Williamson County". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
12. "Saline County". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
13. "Bill Jung Transfer Center". Retrieved October 3, 2023.
14. "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved October 3, 2023.

External links

• Official website

• Carbondale, Illinois
• Harrisburg, Illinois
• Marion, Illinois
• Bus transportation in Illinois
• Transit agencies in Illinois