Gov. Pritzker Opens New Transit Facility in Madison County
Rebuild Illinois fueling unprecedented investments across county
May 23, 2024
PONTOON BEACH- Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joined today by local officials and community leaders to officially open and dedicate a new headquarters for Madison County Transit, a project made possible through $4.4 million from the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The new facility strengthens a vital public service for the region, while continuing to build upon the successes of Rebuild Illinois in creating jobs and enhancing quality of life in Madison County.
“Today, we’re celebrating a win that has been over a decade in the making, and builds on strong progress from the Illinois Department of Transportation to prioritize infrastructure improvements,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I am always proud to see these historic investments come to life and look forward to working together to bring more opportunity to communities across the region and our state.”
Madison County Transit oversees a fleet of 88 buses serving 24 routes and nearly 1.2 million passenger boardings each year. The district also manages the Runabout paratransit service for elderly customers and riders with disabilities in Madison County as well as the Ridefinders carpool program for nine counties in the region. Twelve trails owned and maintained by the district make it one of the few integrated bike and bus systems in the country.
The new administration building replaces four aging structures that did not meet accessibility standards, including a modular facility and a trailer. By consolidating under one roof, Madison County Transit can provide a one-stop shop to buy transit passes, access the lost and found, attend public meetings, and apply for jobs.
The $14.7 million project has been in the works for more than a decade. Combined with an earlier $6 million state commitment, $4.1 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $206,000 in local funding, the $4.4 million Rebuild Illinois award was the catalyst to start construction.
“Transit often is the only link to get to the doctor, school, shopping and other essential services. Working with local stakeholders, we have improved a crucial piece of a vibrant multimodal system of transportation that connects people with where they need to go in Madison County,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “This new facility for Madison County Transit means employees can perform more efficiently and provide better service for the public.”
Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state's transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
Throughout Madison County, Rebuild Illinois is fueling unprecedented investments in infrastructure, including the $496.2 million replacement of the Interstate 270 bridge over the Mississippi River with Missouri, $21 million to modernize America’s Central Port District as well as nearly $9 million in improvements at St. Louis Regional Airport and almost $1 million to extend the Route 66 Trail in Edwardsville. Additionally, Madison County Transit received $10.6 million via Rebuild Illinois for a new passenger transfer center to serve nearby business parks as well as construction of a new trail connecting Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to the greater Edwardsville community.
For local governments in Madison County, Rebuild Illinois has meant an added $32.7 million in motor fuel tax revenues to advance their projects. Also, $26.1 million as part of $1.5 billion earmarked for municipal, township and county projects statewide in Rebuild Illinois has been awarded in the county for road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs.
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