MCT Reduces Services, Now Uses Saturday Schedule

Madison County Transit (MCT) has reduced its fixed-route service to a “modified Saturday service level” seven days a week until further notice.

This is due to a 37 percent systemwide drop in the number of riders due to Coronavirus 19, a recent press release said.

The #13 Troy-Glen Carbon which doesn’t operate on Saturdays will operate on its weekday schedule as will the #20X Gateway Commerce Center bus.

MCT will temporarily discontinue all MCT Express service to Downtown St. Louis, including the #1X Riverbend Express, #5 Tri-City Regional trips to St. Louis, #14X Highland Express, #16X Edwardsville -Glen Carbon Express as well as the #13X Highland – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Express from Highland to SIUE.

To ensure the health and safety of drivers and passengers during this period of reduced service, and to keep the entire driver workforce employed, MCT will be utilizing drivers to serve as “assistants” helping to clean the bus mid-route as passengers get on and off. MCT asks that passengers limit their trips to essential travel only, avoid touching commonly used surfaces, and follow social distancing protocols on the bus and at bus stops, the press release said.

“We know that thousands of individuals depend on MCT each day to get to work, to medical appointments or to shop, so making the decision to reduce service has been difficult for all of us,” said MCT Interim Managing Director S.J. Morrison. “But continuing to maintain Saturday-level service will provide transportation throughout the day for those who need it the most.”

In an emergency meeting on March 19, the MCT Board of Trustees approved a temporary suspension of all fares on its fixed-route and paratransit services to eliminate the passing of cash, transfers and tickets, and to reduce driver-passenger contact. It also closed the buildings at its base of operations and transfer stations to the public until further notice. Additional efforts have also been made to increase cleaning of surfaces, according to the press release.

For more information, to view MCT schedules or to learn more about MCT’s response to the COVID-19 situation, visit www.mct.org, call 797-INFO (4636), or e-mail info@mct.org.