MTD Pulse

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) is excited to announce important changes aimed at enhancing transportation options in Northeast Urbana and Southwest Champaign. These changes come at the start of our new service year, which begins Sunday, August 11, 2024; however, the non-UI service schedule continues until Thursday, August 22. Full University of Illinois service levels resume on Friday, August 23. Customers are encouraged to plan fresh trips at mtd.org to see updated departure times.

In Northeast Urbana, MTD has prioritized a more robust and consistent Weekday Daytime service option to enhance the 10 Gold and replace the 11 Ruby, which previously only operated during peak morning and afternoon times.

MTD is launching Northeast Connect on Monday, August 12. This innovative on-demand van service will allow for flexible travel within a defined service boundary (pictured here) and to/from the Lincoln Square transfer point in downtown Urbana. The new Northeast Connect service will provide transportation throughout the day, complementing the existing Evening and Weekend 110 Ruby route, which will remain in operation. Northeast Connect will operate on Weekdays from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, with trip requests accepted until 7:00 PM.

The Northeast Connect service area includes the neighborhoods of Liberty Commons, Ivanhoe Estates, Powell’s, Wood’s Edge, and Northwood Estates. The service area is generally bound by Airport Rd. to the north, Highcross Rd. to the east, Perkins Rd. to the south, and the Wood’s Edge neighborhood and GH Baker Dr. to the west.

Currently, the 10 Gold operates on a morning and afternoon routing (before 10:32AM and after 2:32PM), and a different, midday routing. With Northeast Connect service covering the area north of Perkins Rd. beginning Monday, August 12, the current 10 Gold morning and afternoon routing will no longer operate. This means Kerr Ave. between Cunningham and Broadway will no longer be served. 

Passengers who use 10 Gold service in the Brownfield, Airport Rd., High Cross Rd. and Perkins Rd. areas should instead use Northeast Connect to transfer to a fixed-route bus at Lincoln Square.​ This modification makes the 10 Gold route more efficient, and improves schedule adherence.

In Southwest Champaign, MTD has made improvements to West Connect, our existing on-demand van service. The boundaries have been expanded to include Carle at the Fields (Fields South Drive), which will give Southwest Champaign residents within the designated boundary (pictured here) the ability to travel directly to medical facilities and area businesses. As with Northeast Connect, the expanded boundary goes into effect on Monday, August 12. Customers may travel within the boundaries of West Connect or they may travel to/from the boundary to access transfer points for fixed route service. West Connect connects passengers with fixed- route bus service at Round Barn Road and the Stephen’s Family YMCA.

Like MTD’s fixed-route service, West Connect and Northeast Connect offer a convenient and affordable travel option, with a one-way trip costing just $1, including a transfer. The fare is also covered by a valid bus pass, DASH Card, or I-Card. All trips must originate or end inside the corresponding service boundary and will only serve designated transfer points when going outside of the boundary. Passengers can request a trip using the MTD Connect app or by calling 217.384.8188. For more information about these services, and all MTD routes, visit our Routes page on mtd.org.

New Saturday Service to Apollo Drive

In reviews of the customer feedback MTD has received over the past year, we’ve identified an increase in requests for service to Apollo Drive on Saturdays to serve employees of local businesses. Currently, the 2 Red route serves this area during Weekday Daytime service and the 100 Yellow route serves this area during Weekday Evening service. ​MTD has added some trips to the 100 Yellow Saturday route to serve this area, beginning Saturday, August 17.

Adding service to the Apollo area will add approximately seven minutes to the 100 Yellow. As a result, the 100S Yellow Saturday will leave Champaign Walmart two minutes earlier on Saturdays. The 100S Yellow Saturday will no longer have a layover at Market Place Mall, and will also arrive and depart two minutes earlier. Departures from Illinois Terminal and points to the south are not affected by this change.

New Plastipak Bus Stop Location

To accommodate a change of facility entrance for Plastipak employees, MTD has moved the main bus stop at Plastipak to the North entrance.​ This change to the bus stop location will add about five minutes to most routes serving Plastipak. Changing arrival and departure times at Plastipak are listed below:

• On weekday mornings, the 6 Orange will arrive and depart at 6:52AM instead of a 6:50AM arrival & 6:53AM departure.​

• The Lime A will arrive and depart at 11:20PM instead of 11:18PM.​

• The Lime B will arrive and depart at 10:57PM instead of 10:55PM.​

• The 180B Lime Saturday will arrive and depart at 6:59PM instead of 6:56PM.​

• The 180B Lime Saturday will arrive and depart at 7:38PM instead of 7:36PM.​

110 Ruby Weekday Evening Schedule Changes to Facilitate Transfers

Currently, the Weekday Evening 110S Ruby arrives at Lincoln Square hourly at :23 after the hour. This means passengers may miss transfers to 70W Grey and 50E Green that arrive at :20 after the hour. Beginning Monday evening, August 12, all 110 Weekday Evening Ruby timepoints will be moved back by three minutes to accommodate these transfers. Other potential transfers at Lincoln Square will not be affected.

Improved 6:35AM Universal Transfer Flow at Illinois Terminal

To improve the flow of buses exiting Illinois Terminal onto Market St., the 6:35AM Universal Transfer will now be staged in the same order that is used at the 7:40AM Universal Transfer.​

Staging in the same order for both Universal Transfers at Illinois Terminal helps passengers and Operators navigate the platforms during high traffic times.​ This reordering will not affect bus arrival or departure times.​

Elimination of Early Morning Layover at Illini Union for 5W Green

Finally, early weekday mornings, the 5W Green holds at the Illini Union from 6:40-45AM, a remnant of the 6:40AM Green & Wright Universal Transfer that was removed in August, 2014. This layover at the Illini Union has been removed, as it has been removed for all other routes that served it. ​

Removing the layover will help this specific 5W Green trip stay on time throughout the rest of the westbound trip and during the return eastbound trip. Currently, this bus tends to run late when arriving at Illinois Terminal for the 7:40AM Universal Transfer.​

MTD looks forward to enhancing mobility and connectivity for residents across our community. If you have questions or need help planning a trip, please call us at 217.384.8188. We’re here to help!