Grant to improve transit access in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced it has been awarded $1.8 million from the Federal Transit Administration to launch a pilot program in Southern Illinois with the goal of improving access to public transportation for people with disabilities, older adults and those with low incomes.

The grant, administered through the federal Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program, will support efforts to integrate trip scheduling and fare collection across 20 counties served by Shawnee Mass Transit District, Rides Mass Transit District, South Central Mass Transit and Monroe Randolph Transit District.

“This grant is an important step toward making the transit experience seamless for those who need it most,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “By building upon some of the best rural transit systems in the country, Illinois is poised to create connections in exciting new ways that are more convenient and easier for Southern Illinois residents. We are excited to partner with these providers and get to work.”

Led by IDOT, the pilot program’s initial goal is to create better links among the four transit providers’ schedules and transfer locations to make it easier for riders to travel beyond the limits of their transit districts. The larger mission is to eventually integrate fare collection and improve the coordination of public funding for transit throughout the region, relieving riders of the burden of arranging fares and payments. ​