View source for Madison County Transit

{{Short description|Public transit and bike trail system in Madison County, Illinois, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name            = Madison County Transit
| logo            = Madison County Transit logo.png
| logo_size       =
| image           = 20180205 16 Alton, Illinois transit center.jpg
|image_size=275px| image_caption   =Two MCT buses at the Alton multimodal station
| company_slogan  =
| parent          =
| founded         = 1980<ref name="Madison County Transit At A Glance"/>
| headquarters    = 1 Transit Way<br>[[Pontoon Beach]], [[Illinois]], 62040, U.S.
| service_area    = [[Madison County, Illinois]]<br>[[St. Clair County, Illinois]]<br>[[St. Louis, Missouri]]
| service_type    = [[Public transport bus service|Bus]]<br>[[Paratransit]]<br>[[Shared-use path|Shared-use paths]]
| alliance        = [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]]<br>[[St. Clair County Transit District]]
| routes          = 23 bus routes<br>12 shared-used paths
| destinations    =
| stops           =
| hubs            = 5 transit centers<br>18 [[park and ride]] lots
| stations        =
| lounge          =
| fleet           = 88 [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]] buses<br>26 Paratransit vans
| ridership       = 5,800 ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| fuel_type       =
| operator        =
| ceo             = SJ Morrison<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madison County Transit Board|url=https://www.mct.org/mct-board/|access-date=2023-05-08|website=MCT}}</ref>
| website         = [http://www.mct.org/ mct.org]
|annual ridership=1,681,400 ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}}}
'''Madison County Transit''' ('''MCT''') is a public transit operator that serves [[Madison County, Illinois]], a suburban county [[Ordinal direction|northeast]] of [[St. Louis]]. Its services include [[bus]], [[microtransit]], [[paratransit]], and a "[[Rail trail|rails to trails]]" network.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About Us – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/about-us/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had an annual ridership of 1,681,400, or about 5,800 per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

== History ==

=== Interurban era ===
[[File:Illinois Terminal Train on Hadley Street 1928.png|left|thumb|An Illinois Terminal train on Hadley Street in 1928 before realignment]]
Public transit in Madison County previously included [[interurban]] lines operated by the [[Illinois Terminal Railroad]] (ITC). These lines connected commuters with [[Danville, Illinois]] to the east, [[Peoria, Illinois]] to the north, and St. Louis to the west.<ref>Fehl, George. "The Illinois Traction System: Comprehensive Traction Maps and Railway Illustrations, Parts One-Four." (G/S Productions, 1992).</ref> The first Madison County alignment opened between Granite City and Staunton on June 4, 1906.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=15}}</ref> In November of that year, the ITC reached the corner of Third Street and Broadway in [[East St. Louis, Illinois]], near the [[Eads Bridge]]. However, owners of the bridge refused trackage rights so passengers were forced to transfer to steam trains to enter St. Louis.<ref name=":11" />

With the bulk of Illinois Terminal traffic traveling between Madison County and St. Louis, ITC decided to build its own bridge over the Mississippi River to a new terminal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=21-23}}</ref> The [[McKinley Bridge]] and a new street-running alignment in St. Louis entered service on October 10, 1910 with a passenger terminal opening in December 1911 at 12th Street and Lucas Avenue.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=24-25}}</ref>

By the late 1920s, the Illinois Terminal and partner railroads operated freight and passenger service to Madison County communities including; [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]], [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]], [[Hartford, Illinois|Hartford]], and [[Wood River, Illinois|Wood River]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=92-102}}</ref> In 1927, the Venice High Line opened between the McKinley Bridge and the St. Louis, Troy & Eastern Railway in [[Madison, Illinois|Madison]]. The {{convert|1.8|mi|km|adj=on}} long trestle was built to bypass busy surface streets and crossed over eight railroads and one yard.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=51-53}}</ref> Much of the trestle had been demolished by 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Built St. Louis {{!}} Metro East {{!}} Venice High Line |url=https://builtstlouis.net/eaststlouis/venice-high-line.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=builtstlouis.net}}</ref>

Due to street traffic and congestion at its terminals in St. Louis, ITC began a track realignment and terminal replacement project in 1930.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |pages=46-53}}</ref> In January 1933, a new {{convert|2.6|mi|km|adj=on}} elevated/subway alignment and Central Terminal Building were put into full service. The project eliminated seven streetcar crossings, 29 grade crossings, and improved running time by seven minutes.<ref name=":12" />

On March 8, 1953, service between Alton and St. Louis was ended due to declining profitability and ridership.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=223}}</ref> In 1956, ITC abandonded the trackage between Edwardsville and Madison and filed to end its remaining 134 daily train trips between St. Louis and Granite City due to declining profitability and ridership.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=238}}</ref> In 1958, the McKinley Bridge was sold to the City of Venice for $13.5 million.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=254}}</ref> Later that year, ITC car 457 made the last scheduled run on the Illinois Terminal system.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Dale |title=The Illinois Terminal Railroad The Road of Personalized Services |publisher=White River Productions |year=2005 |isbn=1-932804-00-5 |location=Missouri |pages=255}}</ref>

The {{convert|2.6|mi|km|adj=on}} elevated/subway trackage remained in use until 2004 to deliver newsprint rolls to the [[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]], whose basement loading docks were accessed via the subway.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ecrouch@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8119 |first=Elisa Crouch • |date=2009-05-12 |title=Styrofoam will fill Tucker tunnel |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/styrofoam-will-fill-tucker-tunnel/article_6809da08-8e29-536f-8375-06ce704c4456.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}</ref> After closing in 2004, the elevated section of the alignment was purchased by Great Rivers Greenway for $1.5 million for conversion into an elevated park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-19 |title=Trestle planners show off what the public can expect |url=https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2013-06-19/trestle-planners-show-off-what-the-public-can-expect |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=STLPR |language=en}}</ref> A $33.8 million project to fill the subway portion of the alignment beneath Tucker Boulevard in downtown St. Louis was completed in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Neil |first=Tim |date=2013-06-21 |title=Limited traffic flows along new Tucker Boulevard, completion set for August |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/limited-traffic-flows-along-new-tucker-boulevard-completion-set-for/article_b5d2e4cc-e5f9-5a12-a7d4-b07b7fb9c950.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Modern era ===
The Madison County Transit District was created in 1980 by the Madison County Board to improve transportation within the county.<ref name="Madison County Transit At A Glance">{{Cite web |title=Madison County Transit At A Glance |url=https://www.mct.org/MCTInfo/AtAGlance.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205052711if_/https://www.mct.org/MCTInfo/AtAGlance.aspx |archive-date=2021-12-05 |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=MCT}}</ref> In 1981, the [[Illinois General Assembly]] passed the Local Mass Transit District Act allowing counties to levy up to a quarter-cent sales tax for public transportation.<ref name=":27">{{Cite web |title=A History of Transit Sales Tax Initiatives: City of St. Louis – Gateway Streets |url=http://www.gatewaystreets.org/2010/history-of-transit-sales-tax_04/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":29">{{Cite web |title="Local Mass Transit District Act" |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=983&ChapAct=70%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B3610%2F&ChapterID=15&ChapterName=SPECIAL+DISTRICTS&ActName=Local+Mass+Transit+District+Act. |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=Illinois General Assembly}}</ref> Shortly after, the Metro East Mass Transit District began levying a quarter-cent sales tax in both Madison and St. Clair counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mass Transit District [Metro-East Mass Transit (MED) Taxes and Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Taxes] |url=https://tax.illinois.gov/research/taxinformation/sales/mass.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=tax.illinois.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In 1985, '''Agency for Community Transit Inc. (ACT)''', a 501(c)(3) corporation was formed to provide paratransit service for residents of Madison County. Today, the agency operates MCT's bus, microtransit, and paratransit services.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Viliocco-Smith |first=Amanda |date=August 9, 2024 |title=MCT IS LAUNCHING ITS FIRST MICROTRANSIT PILOT PROGRAM |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/New_On-Demand_Service_Coming_to_Collinsville.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref> In the early 1990s, MCT began its “rails to trails” program with the goal of preserving former rail corridors for future transit use and interim trail use. Today, the system has {{convert|138|mi|km|adj=off}} of trails.<ref name=":0" />

In May 2024, the district opened a new 26,416 square foot headquarters building on its campus in Pontoon Beach, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolinger |first=Charles |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Illinois governor attends celebration for new Madison County Transit building |url=https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/madison-county-transit-administration-building-19474521.php |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2025 |website=The Edwardsville Intelligencer}}</ref> That August, the district launched '''MCT Micro''', a [[microtransit]] service that operates within [[Collinsville, Illinois]].<ref name=":8" />

==Services==

=== Bus ===
Madison County Transit currently operates 17 local bus routes and 6 regional bus routes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Schedules 2 – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/bus-schedules/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> Local routes operate only within Madison County while regional routes provide service to the [[Emerson Park station (MetroLink)|Emerson Park Transit Center]] in [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] or [[downtown St. Louis]] in Missouri.<ref name=":5" /> In 2008, MCT launched the Summer Youth Pass which allows those 18 years of age or younger to ride for free between Memorial Day and Labor Day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MCT To Provide Free Summer Youth Passes For 22,000 Students|url=https://www.mct.org/textOnly/MCTInfoTO/PressReleases/YouthPass2008_ReleaseTO.htm|access-date=2021-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205052642if_/https://www.mct.org/textOnly/MCTInfoTO/PressReleases/YouthPass2008_ReleaseTO.htm|archive-date=2021-12-05|url-status=dead|website=MCT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQ – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/faq/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> That same year, Illinois Public Act 095-0708 went into effect, allowing all [[elderly]]/[[disabled]] people to ride bus services for free.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-01-18|title=Public Act 095-0708|url=https://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/95/PDF/095-0708.pdf|access-date=2021-12-05|website=Illinois General Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=MCT Announces Landmark Free Rides Program|url=https://www.mct.org/textOnly/MCTInfoTO/PressReleases/Free_Rides_ProgramTO.htm|access-date=2021-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205052644if_/https://www.mct.org/textOnly/MCTInfoTO/PressReleases/Free_Rides_ProgramTO.htm|archive-date=2021-12-05|url-status=dead|website=MCT}}</ref> All buses are equipped with security cameras,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=MCT Rolls Out New Heavy Duty 'Talking' Buses |url=https://mct.org/MCTInfo/PressReleases/MCT_Rolls_Out_New_Buses.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205052643if_/https://mct.org/MCTInfo/PressReleases/MCT_Rolls_Out_New_Buses.aspx |archive-date=2021-12-05 |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=MCT}}</ref> an accessible lift or ramp and priority seating,<ref name=":0" /> and have the ability to "kneel" or lower themselves closer to the ground during boarding.<ref name=":7" /> Additionally, all buses are equipped with [[Bicycle carrier|bike racks]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Bike & Bus – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/bike-bus/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> as part of MCT's "bike and bus" program with an estimated 1,700 cyclists riding each month.<ref name=":0" />

Fixed route bus service is operated by Agency for Community Transit Inc. (ACT).<ref name=":0" />

=== Paratransit ===
Since 1985, Madison County Transit has provided a [[paratransit]] service called '''Runabout''' for elderly and disabled residents.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rider Info – Agency for Community Transit Runabout |url=https://actrunabout.org/rider-info/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> Riders must register with ACT to use the service and have a verified disability or be 65 years of age or older.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility – Agency for Community Transit Runabout |url=https://actrunabout.org/eligibility/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> MCT estimates annual ridership at 36,000 riders with an average monthly ridership between 1,800 and 3,700 riders.<ref name=":0" />

In 2024, MCT launched MCT Micro, a [[microtransit]] service that operates within [[Collinsville, Illinois]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Micro Service – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/micro/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> Riders schedule a $1.00 ride via a smartphone app called MCT Micro while those without app access can call MCT to schedule a ride.<ref name=":4" /> Both Runabout and MCT Micro are operated by ACT.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />

=== MCT Trails ===
MCT Trails launched in the early 1990s to preserve former rail corridors for future transit use and interim trail use.<ref name=":0" /> Today, the system is made up of {{convert|138|mi|km|adj=off}} of pathways across 12 trails.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails |url=https://mcttrails.org |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref> There are 22 tunnels, 49 bridges, and 1,585 acres of green space across the network.<ref name=":9" /> Roughly $45 million has been spent on the trail system to date.<ref name=":9" />

Major trails include:

* '''Confluence Trail:''' The Confluence Trail is a {{convert|20.5|mi|km|adj=on}} asphalt and rock trail running along the Mississippi River between [[Venice, Illinois]] and [[Alton, Illinois]]. A connection to [[the Great Rivers Greenway District]]'s Mississippi Greenway and Riverfront Trail in [[St. Louis]] can be made via the [[McKinley Bridge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails - Confluence Trail |url=https://mcttrails.org/mct_confluence_trail |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref>
* '''Goshen Trail:''' The Goshen Trail is a {{convert|19.5|mi|km|adj=on}} asphalt trail and considered the "spine" of the network. It begins near South Roxana and ends in [[O'Fallon, Illinois]] and is the only trail that connects Madison County with [[St. Clair County, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails - Goshen Trail |url=https://mcttrails.org/mct_goshen_trail |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref>
* '''Nickel Plate Trail:''' The Nickel Plate Trail is a {{convert|28.5|mi|km|adj=on}} asphalt and limestone trail and is the longest trail in the network. It begins in [[New Douglas, Illinois]] and ends in [[Pontoon Beach, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails - Nickel Plate Trail |url=https://mcttrails.org/mct_nickel_plate_trail |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref>
* '''Quercus Grove Trail:''' The Quercus Grove Trail is a {{convert|18.9|mi|km|adj=on}} asphalt and limestone trail traveling between downtown Edwardsville and rural [[Staunton, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails - Quercus Grove Trail |url=https://mcttrails.org/mct_quercus_grove_trail |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref>
* '''Schoolhouse Trail:''' The Schoolhouse Trail is a {{convert|15.5|mi|km|adj=on}} asphalt trail traveling between [[Troy, Illinois|Troy]] and [[Madison, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Trails - Schoolhouse Trail |url=https://mcttrails.org/mct_schoolhouse_trail |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=mcttrails.org}}</ref>

== Fares ==
When boarding a bus, riders with valid passes present them to the operator and those without passes are able to pay exact change into the onboard farebox.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Ways to Pay – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/ways-to-pay/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Additionally, MCT accepts most [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]] fares on its services, however, this excludes mobile fares.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=Fares & Passes |url=https://www.metrostlouis.org/fares-and-passes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217215953/https://www.metrostlouis.org/fares-and-passes/ |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Metro Transit – Saint Louis |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |Madison County Transit Fare Structure
|-
!Fare Type
!Mode
!Current Fare<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fare Chart & Zone Map – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/fare-chart-zone-map/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8" />
|-
|Local
|Bus
|$1.00
|-
|Regional
|Bus
|$3.00
|-
|Local (Half Fare)*
|Bus
|$0.50
|-
|Regional (Half Fare)*
|Bus
|$1.50
|-
|2-Hour Regional Pass
|Bus
|$3.00
|-
|Day Pass
|Bus
|$5.00
|-
|7 Day Pass<sup>†</sup>
|Bus
|$15.00
|-
|Student Monthly Pass
|Bus
|$15.00
|-
|Local 30 Day Pass<sup>†</sup>
|Bus
|$40.00
|-
|Local Monthly Pass
|Bus
|$40.00
|-
|System Monthly Pass
|Bus
|$70.00
|-
|MCT Micro
|Van
|$1.00
|-
| colspan="3" |* <small>Reduced fares require a</small><small>n MCT Half Fare ID or Metro reduced fare permit</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fare Chart & Zone Map – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/fare-chart-zone-map/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
<small>†</small> <small>Only available as a mobile fare option on the Token Transit app</small><ref name=":1" />
|}

==Fixed bus routes==

=== MCT Local ===
Bus routes that travel within Madison County:
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Notes
|-
|'''1'''
|Riverbend
|Route operates between the Granite City and Alton stations. Serves Hartford Library and several retail stores. Connection to MCT Confluence Trail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 1 – Riverbend |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MCT_Route_01.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''2'''
|Granite City Shuttle
|Route operates between [[Venice, Illinois]] and Northgate. Serves Gateway Regional Medical Center and several retail stores. Connection to MCT Nature Trail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 2 – Granite City Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MCT_Route_02.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''4'''
|Madison-Edwardsville
|Route operates between [[Madison, Illinois]] and [[Edwardsville, Illinois]]. Serves [[Southwestern Illinois College]], [[Southern Illinois University Edwardsville]], and the Madison County courthouse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 4 – Madison-Edwardsville |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_04.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''6'''
|Roxana-Pontoon Beach
|Route operates between Pontoon Beach, Illinois and the Wood River station. Also serves [[Roxana, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 6 – Roxana-Pontoon Beach |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MCT_Route_06.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''7'''
|Alton-Edwardsville
|Route operates between [[Alton, Illinois]] and Edwardsville. Serves [[Wood River, Illinois]] and the [[Alton station (Illinois)|Alton Regional Multimodal Station]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 7 – Alton-Edwardsville |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MCT_Route_07.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''8'''
|Central Shuttle
|Route operates between the downtown Alton bus station and the Alton Regional Multimodal Station. Also serves [[Alton Square Mall]] and St. Anthony's Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 8 – Central Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MCT_Route_08.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''9'''
|Washington Shuttle
|Route operates between the downtown Alton bus station and Alton Square Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 9 – Washington Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_09.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''10'''
|State & Elm Shuttle
|Route operates between the Alton Regional Multimodal Station and downtown Alton. Serves Alton Square Mall and [[Lewis and Clark Community College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 10 – State & Elm Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_10.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''11'''
|Brown Shuttle
|Route operates between the downtown Alton bus station and [[Cottage Hills, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 11 – Brown Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MCT_Route_11.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''12'''
|Bethalto Shuttle
|Route operates between Wood River and [[Bethalto, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 12 – Bethalto Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MCT_Route_12.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''13'''
|Troy-Glen Carbon
|Route operates between [[Glen Carbon, Illinois]] and [[Troy, Illinois]]. Serves Anderson Hospital.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Route 13 – Troy-Glen Carbon |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MCT_Route_13_13X.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''13X'''
|Highland-SIUE Express
|Route operates between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and [[Highland, Illinois]].<ref name=":3" />
|-
|'''16'''
|Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Shuttle
|Route operates between the downtown Edwardsville bus station and Glen Carbon. Connections to MCT Goshen, Nature and Nickel Plate trails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 16 – Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_16.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''17'''
|Cougar Shuttle
|A free route connecting various locations on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 17 - Cougar Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_17.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''19'''
|Edwardsville-Collinsville
|Route operates between [[Collinsville, Illinois]] and the downtown Edwardsville bus station. Connections to MCT Nature, Nickel Plate and Schoolhouse trails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 19 – Edwardsville-Collinsville |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_19.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''21'''
|West Collinsville Shuttle
|Route operates solely in Collinsville. Serves retail stores and local government facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 21 – West Collinsville Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_21.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''22'''
|University Shuttle
|Route operates between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the downtown Edwardsville bus station. Connections to MCT Goshen, Nature, Nickel Plate and Watershed trails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 22 – University Shuttle |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MCT_Route_22.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|}

=== MCT Regional ===
[[File:Madison County Transit Bus in Use.jpg|thumb|An MCT express bus in downtown St. Louis]]
Bus routes that travel between Madison County, [[St. Clair County, Illinois]] and [[downtown St. Louis]]:<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Express Service – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/express-service/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Notes
|-
|'''1X'''
|Riverbend Express
|Route operates between downtown St. Louis and [[Godfrey, Illinois]]. Serves several attractions in downtown St. Louis and Alton Square Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 1X – Riverbend Express |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MCT_Route_01X.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''5'''
|Tri-City Regional
|Route operates between the [[Emerson Park station (MetroLink)|Emerson Park Transit Center]] in East St. Louis, Illinois to Granite City station. Select trips serve downtown St. Louis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tri-City Regional |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MCT_Route_05.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''14X'''
|Highland Express
|Route operates between downtown St. Louis and Highland, Illinois. Serves the [[Convention Center station (MetroLink)|Convention Center]] [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]] station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 14X – Highland Express |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MCT_Route_14X.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''16X'''
|Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Express
|Route operates between downtown St. Louis and the downtown Edwardsville bus station. Serves Collinsville and Glen Carbon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 16X – Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Express |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MCT_Route_16X.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''18'''
|Collinsville Regional
|Route operates between the Collinsville bus station and the Emerson Park Transit Center in East St. Louis. Serves [[Fairmount Park Racetrack]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 18 – Collinsville Regional |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCT_Route_18.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|-
|'''20X'''
|Gateway Commerce Center Express
|Route operates between the Gateway Commerce Center in Pontoon Beach and the Emerson Park Transit Center in East St. Louis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 20X – Gateway Commerce Center Express |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MCT_Route_20X.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>
|}

===Special Service===
During [[The Muny]] season, Madison County Transit operates the Muny Express service between the Illinois communities of Alton, Edwardsville and Highland and the theater in St. Louis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2024 |title=THE MCT MUNY EXPRESS RETURNS FOR 2024 |url=https://www.mct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024_Muny_Express_release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.org}}</ref>

== Fleet ==
[[File:Jordan S. Wilson 211.jpg|thumb|Madison County Transit garage]]Madison County Transit operates a fleet of 88 fixed route buses and 26 paratransit vans. All vehicles have an accessible lift or ramp and include priority seating.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, all buses have a bike rack, available first-come, first-served.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />

Buses and vans are serviced and stored at the district's only depot, located on their headquarters campus in [[Pontoon Beach, Illinois]].

== Organization ==

=== Leadership ===
Madison County Transit is managed by a five-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Madison County Board. Its managing director is SJ Morrison.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCT Board – Madison County Transit |url=https://www.mct.org/mct-board/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2024, the district had 220 full-time employees and 63 part-time employees.<ref name=":0" />

=== Funding ===
Madison County Transit's operating budget is primarily funded by sales taxes from the Local Mass Transit District Act<ref name=":0" /> and support from the [[Illinois Department of Transportation]]. Other funds come from federal grants and fare-paying passengers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2024 |title=Madison County Transit District Operating Budget and Appropriation |url=https://mct.org/MCTInfo/operating_budget/MCT_FY2025_Operating_Budget.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=mct.com}}</ref> MCT's projected operating budget for FY2025 is $40,352,000. Sales tax receipts and IDOT assistance are estimated at $12.8 million and $21 million, respectively.<ref name=":2" /> Other estimated receipts include $1,890,000 in federal funds and $1.9 million in fares.<ref name=":2" />
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Sales tax ballot initiatives
|-
!Ballot measure
!Year
!Sales tax
!Result
|-
|Local Mass Transit District Act<ref name=":292">{{Cite web |title="Local Mass Transit District Act" |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=983&ChapAct=70%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B3610%2F&ChapterID=15&ChapterName=SPECIAL+DISTRICTS&ActName=Local+Mass+Transit+District+Act. |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=Illinois General Assembly}}</ref>
|1981
|0.25%
|Passed
|-
|Proposition M<ref>{{Cite web |title=A History of Transit Sales Tax Initiatives: Madison County – Gateway Streets |url=http://www.gatewaystreets.org/2010/history-of-transit-sales-tax_02/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|1997
|0.5%
|Failed
|}

==Defunct plans==
===Light rail===
In 1997, Madison County voters rejected a half-cent sales tax for [[light rail]] expansion.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=A History of Transit Sales Tax Initiatives: Madison County – Gateway Streets |url=http://www.gatewaystreets.org/2010/history-of-transit-sales-tax_02/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="STL Business Journal MetroLink Expansion">{{Cite web |date=2001-07-15 |title=Madison County could be next stop for MetroLink |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2001/07/16/focus14.html |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=St. Louis Business Journal}}</ref>

In 2005, the [[East-West Gateway Council of Governments]], in conjunction with MCT and [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]], studied extending MetroLink into Madison County. The study recommended two alignments that would have begun near the 5th & Missouri station in [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] with service to [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]], [[Collinsville, IL|Collinsville]], [[Wood River, IL|Wood River]], and [[Glen Carbon, IL|Glen Carbon]] between {{convert|21-23|mi|km|adj=off}} away. The alignment would have split in [[Madison, Illinois]] with one branch ending in [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] and the other in [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Madison County Light Rail Feasibility Study Final Report |url=https://www.ewgateway.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MadCountyFinalRpt.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925191932/https://www.ewgateway.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MadCountyFinalRpt.pdf |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=East-West Gateway Council of Governments}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Corridor Studies: Madison County Light Rail Feasibility Study - Final Report |url=https://www.ewgateway.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MadCountyFinalRpt.pdf |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=EWGCOG}}</ref> However, with no local funding source the project never moved beyond the initial study phase.<ref name=":10" />

== See also ==
{{columns-list|*[[Bi-State Development Agency]]
*[[Metro Transit (St. Louis)]]
*[[St. Clair County Transit District]]
*[[Transportation in St. Louis]]|colwidth=20em}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Madison County Transit}}
* [http://www.mct.org/ Madison County Transit]
* [https://www.mcttrails.org/ MCT Trails]
{{Bi-State Transit}}
{{Illinois public transit}}

[[Category:Madison County Transit| ]]
[[Category:Transportation in Madison County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Greater St. Louis]]
[[Category:Public transportation in the Metro East]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Illinois]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Missouri]]
[[Category:Transit agencies in Illinois]]
[[Category:Transit agencies in Missouri]]
[[Category:Paratransit services in the United States]]
[[Category:Rail trails in Illinois]]