The Basics
If you’re looking for a syllaBUS for riding with MTD, you’re in the right place. From taking a Hopper to transfer at Illinois Terminal, to navigating late night designated stops, we have all of the key info to help shed light on all of this new transit lingo and get you riding the bus like a seasoned professional.
Hoppers
Some portions of a route are more popular than others, but we have an answer for that: Hoppers. Learn about how Hopper service helps increase frequency for high-demand segments of our routes.
What's a Hopper service and why would I need it?
Hoppers operate on the most in-demand segment of their parent routes. By only operating along a core portion of a route, passengers experience increased frequency (Hopper frequency is often double that of its parent route) and this allows for easier connections and reduced wait times. Please note that if your destination falls beyond the endpoint of a Hopper route, you will need to board the regular parent route.
Late Night
Our service hours fluctuate, but when UIUC is in session there are five late night routes that operate after midnight. During breaks, weekends, and holidays, services may vary.
What hours do MTD buses run?
Our hours vary by day of the week and time of year, so don't hesitate to call us at 217.384.8188 if you want to ensure your trip will be available for a specific date. MTD's Weekday Daytime and Saturday Daytime service begins bright and early in the 5 a.m. hour. Our Weekday Evening and Saturday Evening service runs until midnight. When the University of Illinois (Illinois) is in session, there are five late night routes that operate after midnight until approximately 3:00 a.m. (depending on route). There are extra late night trips on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sunday Daytime service starts just before 8:30 a.m. If Illinois is in session, there is Sunday Evening and Late night service. When Illinois is on break (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer), Sunday service ends at 5:00 p.m.
MTD's ADA Paratransit Service is available anytime that regular fixed-route bus service is in operation. Typical hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 5:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ADA Customer Service accepts reservations from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m Monday through Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. On Holidays that MTD is not operating, voicemail ADA reservations can be made for future dates.
Transfers
Some trips may require more than one route, but we’ve got you covered. Learn about how to make transfers to increase your travel options and get to where you need to go.
What if I need to transfer to another bus?
When you board the bus, let the Operator know the route you’re transferring and ask for a free transfer slip to and where that transfer will be made, so that he or she can contact your connecting bus and inform the other Operator. Once the connecting Operator has been contacted, he or she will be required to wait up to two minutes past the scheduled departure time at the transfer location. Every effort will be made to assist passengers in completing transfers without significantly delaying service to others.
Designated Stops
You’ll begin and end all trips at a designated stop. Learn what this means and how it improves on-time performance for our service.
Illinois Terminal
As Champaign-Urbana’s local transit hub, Illinois Terminal is a key transfer point serving almost every route in MTD’s fixed-route service and gives you access to intercity buses and passenger rail service to destinations beyond Chambana.