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General Information

Phone lines are open whenever MTD buses are operating. This website also has complete information and functions to aid in trip planning.

Telephone Number 217.384.8188 TTY (Hearing Impaired) 217.384.7433

During regular service hours, individuals can visit Illinois Terminal’s Customer Service Center to buy an Annual Pass, Monthly Pass, school tokens, make a cash payment for a Token Transit mobile fare, or obtain a DASH Card or Veteran Card. Photos for passes are taken at no charge.

Illinois Terminal is located at 45 East University Avenue in Champaign.

217.384.3577 Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Saturday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Lost and Found

MTD maintains a lost and found service that is available during regular MTD Customer Service Center hours at Illinois Terminal. Items are kept for two weeks and claimed items must be picked up within that two-week period. Items must be identified and claimed only at Illinois Terminal. MTD is not responsible for items left on buses, in shelters, on any MTD property, or not claimed in the two-week period.

Rules of Conduct

To ensure that all customers have a safe and enjoyable ride, the rules outlined here are enforced on all MTD properties including vehicles, shelters, Illinois Terminal’s interior/exterior, and MTD offices.

• Be courteous and kind.
• Please do not litter on MTD vehicles, at MTD facilities, or at MTD stop locations. Trash receptacles are onboard buses near the front door and at every facility.
• Eating and drinking are prohibited on MTD vehicles. Tobacco and nicotine products (including smokeless) are also prohibited.
• Riders with disabilities and senior riders have seating priority. Please be courteous during boarding/alighting, and when needed, offer your seat to these riders. The seats at the front of the bus are prioritized for seniors and riders with disabilities.
• The age at which a child may ride an MTD bus alone is to be determined by their parent or legal guardian. Independent of age, the child must be able to pay a fare, navigate the system alone, and have or know the contact information for their parent or guardian. Any child who cannot comply with these requirements must be accompanied by a responsible individual who is at least 14 years of age or older. A child travelling alone who is 46” tall or under is not required to pay a fare. Independent of age, no child is allowed to ride the bus unaccompanied at night.
• Please do not use any electronic devices or musical instruments in a manner which may be distracting and/or offensive to others on MTD vehicles.
• Please do not use loud, explicit, or vulgar language. Behavior that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle is strictly prohibited.
• Please wear proper attire. If you are not wearing shoes or a shirt, you will not be provided service.
• Solicitations are prohibited.
• Hazardous materials (for example, gas containers or vehicle batteries) are not allowed on MTD vehicles.
• Firearms are prohibited pursuant to 430 ILCS 66/65.
• Pets are allowed on MTD vehicles when transported in an appropriate pet carrier. Pets must remain in carriers at all times and may not obstruct the aisle. Carrier requirements do not apply to service animals for persons with disabilities. All service animals must either fit on a rider’s lap or on the floor. Animals may not take up a seat.
• Passengers are responsible for carrying their pet carrier and any other heavy items. Operators may not provide assistance carrying heavy items on or off the bus. Do not block the aisle.

Failure to abide by these rules may result in the removal or expulsion of individual(s) from MTD property.

Fares and Transfers

$1 cash (or mobile ticketing) fare per one-way ride. Fareboxes accept coins and $1 bills. Transfers are free. Please ask an operator for a transfer when you first board. Transfers are:

• Issued only at the time a valid fare is paid.
• Valid on first connecting route/service time.
• Not valid for a round trip.

High School and Younger Student Fare

Student tokens are available at $3 for six ($0.50 each). Single token sales are not available. Purchase tokens from any MTD operator prior to 7:00 pm, at Illinois Terminal, or via the Token Transit mobile ticketing app. School tokens are accepted at all times. Only students in high school and younger are eligible and may be required to prove eligibility.

University of Illinois Student, Faculty, and Staff Fare

UI students, faculty, and staff pay no cash fare. UI affiliates must show their UI identification, i-card, at non-iStop locations (see Bus Stops section below).
Children’s Fare: Children 46 inches or less in height ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger. A yellow line measuring 46 inches to the top is near the front door of all MTD vehicles.

Annual Passes

The non-transferable $60 Annual Pass is good for unlimited riding for any 12-month period. The pass starts on the first day of the month. The Annual Pass must be purchased and renewed at Illinois Terminal or via the Token Transit mobile ticketing app.

Monthly Passes

The non-transferable $20 Monthly Pass is good for unlimited riding for any one-month period. The pass starts on the first day of the month and may only be purchased at Illinois Terminal or via the Token Transit mobile ticketing app.

All Day Pass: Ride all day Saturday or Sunday for $2. On Saturday or Sunday, passes can be purchased from any operator until 7:00 PM or any time via the Token Transit mobile ticketing app.

Token Transit Mobile Ticketing

Token Transit offers riders a great alternative to cash with the option to pay for one ride or purchase an Annual or Monthly Pass with a credit card, debit card, or prepaid debit card. If you do not have a card, you can visit Illinois Terminal to pay with cash; Illinois Terminal staff will then upload your fare(s) to your smart phone. These can be used immediately or stored on the Token Transit app for future trips and activation.

When you’re ready to ride, tap your pass stored in your Token Transit account to activate it. The image, color, and wording on passes are unique to the day on which the fare is activated. Once activated, a one-ride fare or Student fare will only be activated for ten minutes. After ten minutes, the fare expires and can no longer be used.

The Monthly Pass is valid for 30 days from the date you first use it. The Annual Pass is valid for 365 days from the date you first use it.

DASH Card

Available for seniors 65 years and older and to riders with disabilities, the DASH Card allows cardholders unlimited free access to MTD’s regular services. The DASH Card is valid for three years and must be renewed upon expiration. All DASH Card holders must have their photo taken at Illinois Terminal.

DASH Card for Senior Citizens

Persons 65 years of age and older may obtain a DASH Card by providing proof of age.

DASH Card for Riders with Disabilities

Medicare Card holders and persons having significant difficulty getting on or off an MTD vehicle may qualify for a DASH Card as a rider with a disability. Applications for DASH Cards must be submitted at Illinois Terminal, and must include a copy of a Medicare Card or certification from an MTD authorized agency. Please contact ADA Customer Service at 217.384.8188 for a list of authorized agencies.

Veteran Pass

This is pass is available for military Veterans and allows free bus rides for three years from the month it is issued. Veterans must present a State of Illinois driver’s license or ID with a Veteran designation, a VA Card, a Military ID, or a DD214 accompanied by your photo ID.

Special Services

ADA Paratransit Service

This service is available to persons with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-routes. ADA Paratransit Service is by reservation only, and all reservations must be made at least one day prior to service. All eligible riders must submit an application and be registered prior to using the service. Please contact ADA Customer Service at 217.384.8188.

Half-Fare Cab Program

A supplement to fixed-route service for DASH Card holders, the Half-Fare Cab Program offers discounted cab rides taken within the MTD boundaries at certain times. Please contact 217.384.8188 for a list of participating cab companies and complete program guidelines.

Bus Riding 101

To determine which bus to ride, visit the Maps & Schedules section of this website. All MTD fixed route service is organized by day type and time of day. You can select a route to view the schedule and see the path of travel. An easy way to plan trips is to use the Trip Planner.

Remember that routing often changes from daytime to evening, Saturday to Sunday, or whether it’s a University of Illinois Fall and Spring Semester day.

Board at any safe intersection along a route where the bus can pull to the curb. MTD has bus stop signs at all valid boarding and alighting points throughout our system.

Arrive several minutes ahead of the departure time. Traffic and other factors sometimes affect schedules. Use the destination sign on the bus to identify its route. Signal to the operator that you wish to board. Do not assume that the bus will automatically stop; be sure to wave! Once the bus has come to a stop and the front door opens, step on. The operator can lower the bus or extend the ramp.

Bus Stops

MTD stops where there is a bus stop sign. Riders should check each route map(s) before they ride to locate iStops, which are detailed later in this section.

Consult the Maps & Schedules section (link) to identify the designated stops you’ll use for the route(s) you ride. MTD places bus stop signs at all designated stops in the District. UI students need to show their iCard at all designated stops.

iStops are designated stops, located in the University District, where it is unnecessary to pay a fare or show your UI iCard ID for routes including the 10 Gold and GOLDhopper, 22/220 Illini and Illini Limited, 12/120 Teal, 13/130 Silver and Silver Limited, and 1/100 Yellow and YELLOWhopper. Signage at these stops shows the iStop symbol.

Boarding and Riding

Have your cash fare of $1.00 or your pass ready prior to boarding. Wait to activate your Token Tranist one-ride fare when you see your bus coming. Operators can make change up to $5 prior to 7:00 pm. If you need to transfer to another route, ask the Operator for a transfer when you board.

If you’d like to transfer to another route, and are concerned about a tight connection, inform the operator immediately upon boarding of the route you’d like to transfer to and where the transfer will be made. Your operator will contact the connecting bus and advise them of the transfer. The connecting bus can wait up to two minutes past the scheduled departure time. Every effort will be made to assist passengers in completing transfers without significantly delaying service.

MTD Holidays

MTD services do not operate all day on these holidays:

• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Year’s Day
• Easter
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day

No evening service is provided on:

• Christmas Eve
• New Year’s Eve

Hoppers

MTD “Hoppers” deviate from the usual path of a route and combine with regular service to operate at 10- or 15-minute frequency. Hoppers connect downtown Champaign, downtown Urbana, and the University of Illinois.

If the destination sign indicates that the bus is a Hopper that particular bus does not continue all the way to the east/west or north/south end portions of that route. If you wish to travel beyond the Hopper portion of the Gold, Green, Orange, or Yellow route, you should board a bus which does not include “Hopper” on its destination sign.

Welcome University of Illinois Students!

University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff have unlimited access to all MTD routes and services at all times. Students, faculty, and staff must present a valid University of Illinois iCard identification when riding.

MTD service operates nearly 24/7 during the UI Fall and Spring semesters, but service is reduced during breaks and summer. Enjoy your time here!