Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District

Public transit before the MTD

In 1854, the first rail lines in the region were laid 2 miles west of Urbana by the Illinois Central Railroad. The city of Urbana initially wanted nothing to do with the new railroad economy, so a new city, originally named West Urbana, was created to help serve the needs of the railroad. In 1860 West Urbana was renamed Champaign, and subsequently developed into an important railroad town. The station served as a stopover on the way from New Orleans to Chicago, and vice versa. In 1909 this was expanded to also include service from Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida.

The first trolley service in the area was established in 1863, when the Urbana Railroad Company was created to link Urbana and Champaign. These first trolleys were drawn by horses or mules. By 1890, work had begun on an electrified trolley system under the auspices of William B. McKinley. At its peak, this system had as many as 20 routes, including a nighttime "Owl Service" linking Champaign and Urbana.

Interurban streetcar service was also supplied to the area (and indeed to much of Illinois) by the Illinois Terminal Railroad Company, another brainchild of William McKinley. McKinley's scheme of selling electricity from the interurban system to the surrounding towns led to the founding of the Illinois Power and Light Company.

In 1901, the Illinois Motor Transit Company introduced a city bus system to the region, but they went bankrupt within the year. However, the inability of the trolley system to lay enough track to fully serve the area prompted the 1925 addition of another bus system by National City Bus Lines, a subsidiary of General Motors. In 1936, as was happening in other places across the nation, National City Bus Lines purchased the trolley system from the Illinois Power and Light Company and dismantled it. The last trolley operated on 10 November 1936. Within one month bus lines had become the dominant form of transportation in the city under the new name "Champaign–Urbana City Lines."

Ridership on the Champaign–Urbana City Lines was high, reaching 1 million passengers served in 1958. Like most of America however, buses in Champaign–Urbana became less popular with the advent of affordable automobiles. On November 17, 1970, P.E. Cherry, the manager of Champaign–Urbana City Lines, published an article in the Courier stating that declining ridership, aging buses, and a rising deficit would force the line to close. The Illinois Commerce Commission conducted a hearing on the petition to close the city lines and suggested that rather than close the lines, a referendum should be drafted to create a mass transit district.

History of the modern MTD

On November 24, 1970, a mere week after the lines looked to be closing, the referendum was approved and Thomas Evans was appointed the director of the new mass transit district. The new MTD began operation on August 2, 1971, for a fee of $0.30 per ride with free transfers on buses which allowed one to navigate the area using several different bus lines. On May 13, 1971, a federal grant was procured to help this both fledgling and historic transit district rework its fleet of buses, purchasing fifteen new buses and ten used buses from Peoria, Illinois. In 1973, the MTD expanded its routes to include the university, offering routes around the university and to the graduate housing complex. Fees for University students were at a reduced rate, paying only $0.10 per ride, or purchasing a $20 semester pass for unlimited rides.

In 1984, MTD received national recognition when it was chosen as the 7th best transportation system in America, outranking the systems provided by many larger cities across the country. In 1986 and 1994, it was the recipient of the American Public Transit Association's Outstanding Achievement Award.

In 1993, MTD introduced low-floor buses to its fleet with an order of 15 New Flyer D40LF buses. MTD was one of the first transit agencies in the United States to introduce low-floor buses. In 1994, MTD introduced articulated buses to its fleet, by purchasing 13 second-hand Crown-Ikarus 286 buses from Transit Authority of River City of Louisville, Kentucky. These buses were replaced by newly purchased New Flyer D60LF articulated buses in 2001-2002.

In 1999, Illinois Terminal was created in downtown Champaign which serves as both a transit hub for the MTD and a connection between the MTD, Amtrak and intercity bus lines.

In 2001, MTD purchased its first new articulated buses, with an order of 12 New Flyer D60LF buses (retired in 2023). In 2009, MTD introduced hybrid electric buses with the introduction of five Gillig BRT 30' midibuses (retired in 2021) and four New Flyer DE60LFR articulated buses (retired in 2024).

In fall 2021, MTD introduced hydrogen fuel cell buses to its fleet, with two New Flyer XHE60 articulated buses. This represents the first commercial order for articulated hydrogen buses in the United States. This was followed up by a purchase of ten rigid New Flyer XHE40 hydrogen fuel cell buses in 2023, which are currently being delivered in 2024.

Today the MTD provides over 11 million rides per year. The current one-way bus fare is $1. Transfers are free and may be used to connect with another route at transfer points to complete a one-way trip. An annual bus pass can be purchased for $60. The annual pass allows unlimited rides. An all-day pass, good for either Saturday or Sunday, can be bought for $2. All University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff have unlimited access to all routes and services.

Accidents

Fatal accidents

Prior to 2004, MTD never had an accident involving a fatality. Since 2004, there have been two fatal accidents involving pedestrians and MTD buses. Both cases involved University of Illinois students on campus:

• Oct. 27, 2004: Carolyn B. Jeffers, a pedestrian, was struck and killed by a 26 Pack bus at the intersection of S Goodwin Ave and Gregory Dr, Urbana.
• Sept. 29, 2005: Sarah Channick, a pedestrian, was struck and killed by a 22 Illini bus at the intersection of S 6th St and E Chalmers St, Champaign. The Channick family sued MTD; the lawsuit was eventually settled for $1.25 million.

After Channick's death, the governments of Champaign and Urbana, the University of Illinois, and MTD conducted the Campus Area Transportation Study (commonly referred to as "CATS"), which made specific recommendations to improve bus safety on campus. As of December 2011, two of three proposed phases had been implemented.

Bus vs. pedestrian accidents

• Nov. 4, 2024: An MTD bus hit a pedestrian in the roadway at the intersection of Wright Street and University Avenue. The pedestrian sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. Champaign police officers cited the bus operator for their role in the collision.
• Sept. 10, 2024: MTD bus 1185 operating a 12 Teal run collided with a University of Illinois student riding an electric scooter near the intersection of Goodwin Avenue and Nevada Street in Urbana. Urbana Police Department Lieutenant Cory Koker told The Daily Illini that the student riding the scooter improperly entered into a crosswalk in front of the bus and subsequently “collided with the bumper of the bus.” The student reportedly sustained only minor injuries.
• May 6, 2024: A pedestrian sustained minor injuries when he was hit by an MTD bus at the intersection of Main and Neil streets in Champaign. The man reportedly stepped off of a curb and walked in front of the bus when he was struck.
• Jan. 30, 2023: An MTD bus and a cyclist were involved in an accident at the intersection of Wright and Chalmers streets on the University of Illinois campus. The cyclist was transported to the hospital to be treated for a leg injury. Two weeks later, the MTD asserted that its bus “was operating safely” and did not cause the crash.
• Feb. 25, 2015: An MTD bus making a right-hand turn from Logan Street onto S. Walnut Street struck pedestrian Patricia J. Marxmiller as she was walking in a crosswalk on her way to work at the Christie Clinic. The bus rolled over her and dragged her for 14 feet before stopping. Her injuries required immediate amputation of her left leg. Later, her right leg was also amputated. She went on to sue the District and bus operator Seth Stevens for damages. Marxmiller later dropped the case against Stevens, who had a history of accidents while working for MTD. In her case against MTD, a Champaign County jury awarded Marxmiller $9,422,000 in damages and her husband, Ken Marxmiller, $450,000 for loss of consortium. MTD appealed the verdict to the Illinois Appellate Court's fourth district on the grounds that the jury was given improper instructions. The appeals court ultimately upheld the lower court’s decision.
• Oct. 28, 2014: MTD bus 1346 struck a University of Illinois student at the intersection of First Street and Kirby Avenue. The pedestrian, a University of Illinois student, was pinned under the bus until she was freed by emergency personnel and transported to the hospital.

Bus vs. vehicle accidents

• Sept. 8, 2025: MTD bus 1348 operating route 2C Red ended up swerving off the road while driving down E. Green Street in Urbana. The driver of an SUV reportedly ran through a stop sign while driving down S. Maple Street, causing both vehicles to serve. As a result, “the bus wound up in a yard of a home near the intersection of South Maple and East Green streets.” Two passengers aboard the bus were transported to the hospital.

Routes

The MTD operates as many as 19 fixed-route services on weekdays.

Fixed routes

Hopper routes are shortened versions of their parent route that serve the most popular stops on a route, providing additional capacity to its parent route. In the tables below, hopper intervals include stops by hopper runs and parent route runs.

• For example, 1 Yellow operates on a 30-minute interval, and 1 Yellow Hopper operates on a 10-minute interval.

• In one hour, two Yellow busses and four Yellow Hoppers will serve each stop along the Yellow Hopper’s route. Directions (noted in italics in tables below)

• Routes are typically divided into north/south or west/east runs. For these routes, runs are labeled with a cardinal direction.

  • Example: 4E Blue or 22N Illini Limited

• The 9 Brown and 16 Pink routes travel in a loop, with one run going clockwise (A) and the other going counter-clockwise (B).

  • Example: 9A Brown (clockwise from Parkland College, to Illinois Terminal, to Transit Plaza, to Secretary of State, then back to Parkland College)

• The 21 Raven only operates in one direction and does not have a letter next to its route number. UI days are weekdays when the University of Illinois is in session. Non-UI days are weekdays during University of Illinois’ fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks. These routes have reduced service during Non-UI days:

• 1 Yellow Hopper (does not run)

• 12 Teal (reduced service)

• 13 Silver (reduced service)

• 22 Illini (replaced with 22 Illini Limited)Note: The “Major streets traveled” column in the below tables follow this format to reflect non-parent-route services:

• Bold — Streets served by hopper routes (1 Yellow, 5 Green, 6 Orange, and 10 Gold hoppers) and 22 Illini Limited

• Italic — Streets served on a limited basis

Weekday

Weekend

On-demand routes

The MTD operates three demand-responsive van services. Customers must use the MTD Connect app or call an MTD dispatcher (217-384-8188) to request a ride on all on-demand routes. All of MTD's on-demand routes cost $1 to ride, the same fare as its fixed-route services.

West Connect

Time: West Connect operates 6:40 am to 6:30 pm (last request at 6 pm), Monday through Friday all year round, except for MTD-recognized holidays.

Service area: West Connect serves the west side of Champaign with express service to the Round Barn Road bus stop.

• South of Kirby Road (with service to The Trails at Abbey Fields neighborhood)
• East of Rising Road
• North of Curtis Road
• West of Interstate 57
• Round Barn Road bus stop

Northeast Connect

Time: Northeast Connect operates 6:30 am to 7:30 pm (last request at 7 pm), Monday through Friday all year round, except for MTD-recognized holidays.

Service area: Northeast Connect serves the northeast portion of Urbana, including neighborhoods along Interstate 74 with express service to and from the Lincoln Square bus stop in downtown Urbana.

• South of Airport Road
• East of Appletree Drive
• North of Perkins Road
• West of High Cross Road
• Lincoln Square bus stop

SafeRides Connect

Time: SafeRides Connect operates on weekday and weekend evenings during University of Illinois fall, winter, and spring semesters; it does not operate over summer break. During the semester, service begins at 7 pm (5 pm during winter months).

• Ends at 6:30 am on weeks when classes are in-session

• Ends at 12:30 am during breaks Service area: SafeRides primarily serves the University of Illinois campus.

• South of University Avenue

• East of State Street

• North of Windsor Road

• West of Vine Street Restrictions:

• SafeRides Connect only serves groups of three or few riders at a time.

• The van service will not transport riders along a route served by a fixed-route bus service.

• The MTD will deny requests to travel from or to any bar.

• SafeRides cannot act as an emergency medical transport.

Facilities

;Administration and Operations Offices :1101 E. University Avenue, Urbana, IL. ;Maintenance Department and Bus Garage :803 E. University Avenue, Urbana, IL. ;Illinois Terminal :45 E. University Avenue, Champaign, IL. ;Wright Street Transit Plaza :S. Wright Street, between Daniel and John. ;Downtown Urbana Transfer Point :Broadway Avenue just north of Lincoln Square, between Main and Elm.

Vehicles

The MTD owns 128 busses. Of those, it operates 118 regularly and keeps 10 buses in its contingency fleet.

The whole fleet is built by Canadian bus manufacturer New Flyer. The active fleet includes four models of New Flyer's Xcelsior design from years ranging from 2013 to 2024. The fleet includes 19 60-foot articulated busses. The exceptions are smaller ADA and SafeRides busses mostly consisting of Ford E-Series and Ram ProMaster chassis busses.

Most of MTD's buses are powered by diesel hybrid powertrains. The District introduced zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell busses in recent years. The District currently operates 10 40-foot, 100-kilowatt fuel cell busses and two 60-foot, articulated, 85-kilowatt fuel cell busses.

The MTD generally plans to retire each of its busses after 12 years on the road. When a bus reaches retirement, it may be kept by the MTD as part of its contingency fleet in case they are needed to fill-in for active fleet busses. The District's current contingency fleet consists of 10 retired 2011 New Flyer Low Floor busses that retired between August 2024 and February 2025.

Fixed route ridership

The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response.

References

References

1. (2015). "FAQs". Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District.
2. "Facts & Figures". Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District.
3. [http://www.cumtd.com/about-us/history/buses City Bus History--CU MTD site]
4. "American Public Transportation Association past awards page".
5. [http://www.cumtd.com/riding/faresandpasses Fares & Passes. MTD]
6. [http://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2008/12/channick_family_settles_lawsuit_for_1.25_million Daily Illini: Channick family settles lawsuit for $1.25 million] {{webarchive. link. (June 12, 2012)
7. [http://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2006/10/more_changes_likely_for_mtd Daily Illini: More changes likely for MTD] {{webarchive. link. (June 12, 2012)
8. [http://www.ccrpc.org/CATS/index.php Champaign County Regional Planning Commission: About CATS]
9. Sweeney, Molly. (2024-11-04). "MTD bus driver cited in Champaign collision". WCIA.
10. (2024-09-10). "Updated: Accident involving pedestrian and bus on Goodwin Avenue, Nevada Street". The Daily Illini.
11. Zimmerman, Bradley. (2024-05-06). "Man hurt in Champaign bus vs. pedestrian collision". WCIA.
12. (2023-01-30). "Accident involving cyclist and MTD bus occurs near UI bookstore". [[The Daily Illini]].
13. (2023-01-31). "Bicyclist Injured In Champaign MTD Bus Accident By Wright Street and Chalmers Street". Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates.
14. Nazarova, Layli. (2023-02-13). "MTD, campus resources respond to recent cyclist collision". [[The Daily Illini]].
15. Sanchez, Angelica. (2016-08-11). "Update: CU-MTD Could Pay Millions To Mahomet Woman Disabled In Accident".
16. Pressey, Debra. (2016-08-16). "Bus victim: 'My whole life is gone'". The News-Gazette.
17. Pressey, Debra. (2015-03-03). "N-G Exclusive: Driver was in earlier MTD bus-pedestrian crash".
18. The Associated Press. (2016-08-18). "Jury Awards More Than $9 Million To Woman Struck By Bus".
19. "Re: Patricia Marxmiller and Ken Marxmiller v. Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District".
20. [https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/86a759ac-28bf-4bff-8908-86189d5cd667/4160741.pdf ''Marxmiller v. Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District'', 2017 IL App (4th) 160741]
21. (2014-10-28). "Bus hits pedestrian at Kirby/First".
22. Mitchell, Tim. (2019-06-18). "New: UI police review video of MTD bus hitting female student". The News-Gazette.
23. Zimmerman, Bradley. (2025-09-08). "MTD bus involved in Monday morning Urbana accident". WCIA.
24. (2025-09-08). "Update: Two MTD passengers taken to hospital after accident near downtown Urbana".
25. "Routes".
26. "UIUC Learn To Ride".
27. Phelan, George. (2021-10-22). "MTD unveils zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell buses".
28. "The National Transit Database (NTD)".