MTD Pulse

As part of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District’s (MTD) commitment to provide accessible transportation, beginning January 1, 2022, the District will introduce a Smoke & Tobacco-Free policy prohibiting the use of all smoke and tobacco products at MTD facilities and grounds including Illinois Terminal. MTD’s new policy applies to all smoke and tobacco products, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, marijuana, electronic devices (like e-cigarettes, vape pens, or e-cigars), and chewing tobacco. To allow passengers to safely board and alight the bus, smoke and tobacco products are not to be used at or within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows, and ventilation systems for all MTD spaces, which includes our vehicles, bus stops, benches, shelters, parking lots, and facilities.

We recognize the importance of creating a Smoke & Tobacco-Free environment, but we are not alone. MTD joins the ranks of other local organizations like the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and area hospitals and medical facilities implementing Smoke & Tobacco-Free grounds to promote a healthy community. This policy aligns with our commitment to provide safe mobility options for everyone, including our customers who are most vulnerable to secondhand smoke such as children, seniors, and those with chronic health concerns, like asthma and COPD. Access to reliable transportation breaks down barriers to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential needs; secondhand smoke should not be a barrier to the lifeline provided by transit.

While the existing Smoke Free Illinois Act covers many of the same concerns for enclosed spaces, MTD is expanding upon the ban to include all District properties, both indoor and outdoor, as well as increasing visibility and enforcement. Signs will be placed on building exteriors, fencing, entrances, and inside all bus shelters. We encourage all customers to help support a Smoke & Tobacco-Free transportation experience. If patterns of ongoing smoke or tobacco use occur, customers may report the incident at 217.384.8188 or online at mtd.org/inside/contact. Our Supervisors and Security will make an honest effort to address persistent violations. This policy will be handled in the same fashion as MTD’s other Rules of Conduct that protect our customers and employees.

MTD thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding. We are excited to improve the customer experience, especially at Illinois Terminal, where travelers wait for bus transfers, trains, intercity transit services, and cabs or ride shares. A Smoke & Tobacco-Free waiting area will be a breath of fresh air for customers, and we also hope it will inspire others to get on board with transit.