South Central Transit along with three other Southern Illinois transportation districts will use a $1.8-million grant to launch a pilot program to improve access to public transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and those with low incomes.
South Central Transit Executive Director Sara Nollman-Hodge says the money will be utilized by South Central, Shawnee Mass Transit District, Rides Mass Transit District, and Monroe Randolph Transit District to standardize their scheduling, transfer locations, and fare collection systems to allow riders to travel beyond the limits of their transit district. Hodge says there is a demand among those in the counties served by South Central to go beyond its boundaries, especially for medical appointments. While the initial program would not tie into Metro-East transit systems, she says that would be a future goal.
The $ 1.8 million is being made possible by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Illinois grant is the largest of the 17 grants awarded across the country.
