Several routes will have detours during the festival and parade this weekend.
On June 3rd of 2019 we published a new schedule that made adjustments to the timetables of several routes in response to data collected from our new intelligent transportation systems. Using new GPS data, we identified several locations where specific routes were consistently running early or late and made tweaks to those schedules to more accurately reflect the actual times of buses on those routes, which in turn makes our schedules more reliable and decreases perceived wait time. The system’s on-time performance has increased significantly as a result.
SMTD buses are also now outfitted with automated passenger counters that - when combined with GPS - can help us determine exactly when and where passengers are getting on or off the bus. This data informs decisions like where to put shelters (you need them when you’re waiting for the bus, not when you get off the bus) and where to increase or cut service. Several changes going live in the Fall 2019 schedule (going into effect on August 19th), are based on this information.
Route 1 - North 5th
After finding enough extra time in the route we opted to add a segment to Route 1 that travels to Walmart on North Dirksen. This is by far the most utilized bus stop in the entire SMTD system outside of those at the Transfer Center, and adding this segment to Route 1 has the following benefits:
Less wait time at other time checks along the route
Quick two-way travel from Walmart to the Sand Hill area and everything between
Spreads passenger load and thus increases on-time performance for other routes that utilize that stop (Routes 2 & 3)
The first two weekday trips on the June 2019 Route 1 schedule compared to those going into effect on August 19th, 2019.
Route 4 - W. Jefferson / W. Lawrence
A small segment was added to Route 4 outbound that detours from E. Cook onto 7th, looping back to E. Cook but stopping by SMTD’s home office along the way. Previously Route 11 was the only daytime route servicing this stop - and only inbound - but this new segment provides direct travel from the Transfer Center to SMTD’s offices.
The new Route 4 pattern starting on August 19th, 2019.
Route 5 - N. Grand / Medical
Due to low ridership, travel to the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport was cut from Route 5. The time surplus from this cut will be used to add a segment to the inbound portion of Route 5 that goes from 11th to Carpenter, to MLK, to E. Cook, and then back to the Transfer Center.
The new Route 5 pattern starting on August 19th, 2019.
Route 8 - South Grand / MacArthur
Further timetable adjustments were made to Route 8 to correct errors in the June 2019 schedule. Additionally, modifications to destination signs will make it easier for those in the Scarritt/Pasfield/Allen loop to determine whether the next bus is headed inbound (“to Transfer Center”) or outbound (“to North Street”).
The first two weekday trips on the June 2019 Route 8 schedule compared to those going into effect on August 19th, 2019.
Route 903 - West Side Night Service
To avoid trains on the 3rd Street rail, Route 903 will no longer take 2nd Street to Washington inbound. Instead, buses will take 2nd Street to Capitol to 4th Street and then to Washington.
Route 903 will begin using the path in red beginning August 19th, 2019 instead of taking 2nd Street directly to Washington. By utilizing the underpass on Capitol, buses can consistently avoid trains on the 3rd Street rail.
All Night Service Routes
All night service buses will start 15 minutes later to facilitate better interaction with the day service routes. The first trips out of the Transfer Center will leave at 6:00 PM while the last will depart at 10:00 PM.
Moving Forward Together
We understand that even minor changes to the system can have huge effects on the lives of our passengers and that a system in constant flux is not a bus system you can rely on. The adjustments made in June and those going into effect in August were designed with this in mind, optimizing the current system so that buses arrive when expected and get you to your destination as quickly and as safely as possible.
SMTD Service to the Illinois State Fair will be similar to recent years. However, there have been a couple of minor additions. Now that Rt. 1 N. 5th goes to Sand Hill, passengers can ride to a stop across the street from Gate 4 on Peoria Road now. Also, Urbanized Area Routes from Sherman and from Riverton/Spaulding pass through the intersection of Sangamon and Peoria Rd at the southeast corner of the fairgrounds on both their inbound and outbound trips in the mornings and evenings. See regular schedules on the Routes page, and see the State Fair Service Flier HERE.
Posted
May 18-19 Weekend DETOURS:
Friday: Due to the Old Capitol Art Fair, Night Service Route 903 Inbound will travel 2nd to Monroe to 9th to Adams.
Friday: Beginning at 5:00PM, the Chatham Urbanized Area Route INBOUND will travel Monroe to 9th to the Transfer Center.
Friday at 5:00PM and ALL DAY Saturday:
Rt. 8 S. Grand/MacArthur OUTBOUND will travel Capitol to 7th to Cook to 2nd; INBOUND will travel 2nd to Lawrence to 9th to the Transfer Center.
Friday at 5:00PM and ALL DAY Saturday:
Route 12 Downtown/Medical OUTBOUND will travel Adams to 7th to Cook to 2nd to Washington to 4th.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to continue service around multiple downtown events this weekend.
WEEKEND DETOURS!
Due to the 5K events this weekend downtown, several routes will experience detours:
11:30am FRIDAY and All Day Saturday
- Rt.12 Downtown/Medical inbound will travel 7th to Madison to 9th to Washington
- Rt. 4 inbound will travel 2nd to Madison to 9th
-Rt. 903 Night Service inbound will travel 2nd to Capitol to 9th to Adams (Friday only; no Saturday night service).
SATURDAY 9:00am to 12:30pm
- Rt. 1 inbound will travel 5th to Madison to 9th to Adams
- Rt. 7 inbound will travel Washington to 2nd to Lawrence to 9th to Adams
- Rt. 8 inbound will travel 2nd to Lawrence to 9th to Washington; outbound will travel Capitol to 9th to Cook to 2nd
- Rt. 11 outbound will travel Capitol to 9th to Cook to 7th
- Rt. 12 outbound will travel Adams to 9th to Cook to 2nd to Madison to 4th
Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon Detours
Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon Detours
The path of the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon between Lincoln Park, Downtown and Washington Park will cause a number of routes to be detoured during the race. The map below shows where routes are going. If you have questions, please contact dispatch. As soon as routes can safely move back to regular routes, they will revert back to normal.
Detours for St. Patrick's Day Parade
Several routes will be affected ALL DAY by Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade street closures downtown. Thankfully, the new Transfer Center no longer has to be moved for events like these (HURRAY!!!!!). However, the following routes will have detours around downtown on some portion of their outbound and/or inbound trips:
Route 1 - N. 5th/Sandhill - Inbound, instead of traveling 5th to Monroe to 9th, the route will travel 5th to Madison to 9th to Adams on its way to the Transfer Center. So stops on 5th between Madison and Cook will not have service Saturday.
Route 4 - W. Lawrence/W. Jefferson - Inbound, instead of traveling Washington all the way in to the Transfer Center, the route will detour from Washington to 2nd St. to Madison to 9th back to Washington to the Transfer Center. So, stops on Washington between 2nd and 9th will not have service Saturday.
Route 7 - W. Washington - Outbound, instead of taking Jefferson all the way to Lewis, the route will travel 11th to Cook to 2nd to Adams to Lewis to Washington back onto the normal route. All outbound Jefferson stops WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE ON SATURDAY. Inbound, instead of traveling along Monroe from Lewis to 9th, the route will travel Washington to 2nd to Lawrence to 9th to Adams to the Transfer Center. So, all stops on Monroe between Lewis and 9th will NOT have service Saturday.
Route 8 - S. Grand/MacArthur - Outbound and Inbound, Route 8 will not be able to travel Capitol Ave from 9th to 2nd then on to S. Grand. Instead, the route will Travel 9th to Cook to 2nd on the outbound portion and 2nd to Lawrence to 9th to the Transfer Center on the inbound trip. So, stops on Capitol between 2nd and 9th will NOT have service Saturday, and stops on 2nd between Capitol and Cook will NOT have service Saturday.
Route 11 - UIS/LLCC - Outbound, instead of taking Capitol to 7th, Route 11 will take 11th to Cook to 7th back onto normal route. So, stops on Capitol from 11th to 7th will NOT have service Saturday, and stops on 7th between Capitol and Cook will also NOT have service Saturday.
Route 12 - Downtown/Medical - Several portions of Adams, 7th, Capitol, 2nd, Monroe and 4th will not have service on Saturday. The route will travel Adams to 9th to Cook to 2nd to Madison to 4th to Carpenter, then, after the normal MMC portion of Carpenter, the route will take 7th to Madison to 9th to Washington to the Transfer Center. So, stops on Adams between 7th and 9th, stops on 7th between Adams and Monroe, stops on Capitol between 2nd and 7th, stops on 2nd, stops on Monroe between 2nd and 4th and stops on 4th between Monroe and Madison will NOT have service on Saturday.
Posted
Route 8 will now travel to Junction Circle, although the times at that stop will be offset from the other routes that are based there. The move simply facilitates transfers without requiring passengers to cross Stanford Avenue on foot.
Outbound, the route now will stay on Outer Park rather than travel into the neighborhood behind Franklin School.
See detailed changes here:
Posted
In Case Of Heavy Snow or Ice, SMTD Will Announce Operations Switching To Snow Routes Or Other Changes. Click Here To See Snow Routes.
If You’re Not Sure If Snow Routes Are Running, Check Our Facebook Page Or Twitter, Or Call 217-522-5531. NOTE: Snow Routes Are Only Implemented If Weather Makes Roads Impassable Or Dangerous Or In Areas Where Drifts Are Common. Once Staff Inspects Routes, Buses May Return To Regular Service. When A High Volume Of Snow Is Expected, Please Prepare For Delays. We Will Do Our Best To Return To Regular Service As Soon As It Is Safe To Do So.
Posted
Click on the village to see the schedule.
Posted
Springfield, IL – The Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) will hold eight Open House-style events to gather public comment on a new route system planned to take effect when the agency moves its downtown transfer center from 5th & Capitol to 11th & Washington/Adams. The move is scheduled to happen August 1st and requires at least two meetings for the public to be allowed to comment on the proposed changes. SMTD’s Board of Trustees will then vote on the proposed new route system at their next board meeting at the end of February.
“The transfer center move is something the community has been looking forward to for quite some time,” said Steve Schoeffel, SMTD Service Planning & Marketing Specialist. “Because that move changes routes by eight or nine city blocks, several of our current routes cannot maintain their schedules after that move. So, instead of tweaking just those routes, now is a good time for an overhaul of our entire system, building in more efficiency, offering more destinations and providing clearer schedules that are more-easily understood by current and prospective passengers as well as visitors.”
SMTD will go beyond the required two public meetings for a change this size, offering eight separate events over three weeks in seven locations across the area, an interactive web page and likely Facebook LIVE of at least one of the events for anyone who may not be able to physically make it to a location. There will be no formal presentation. Instead, the events will include several stations with maps and graphics highlighting detailed sections of the system along with a station for a more general overview. The offerings are scheduled as follows:
- Thursday, Feb. 1st
- 12:00 Noon Re-Design Web Page Goes Live on SMTD.org
- Wednesday, Feb. 7th
- 2:00-5:00PM Open House Sangamon County Public Health Dept. 2833 S. Grand Avenue E, Conference Room
- Friday, Feb. 9th
- 12:00-2:00PM Open House SMTD Board Room, 928 S. 9th St., Springfield
- 6:00-7:30PM Open House SMTD Board Room, 928 S. 9th St., Springfield
- Thursday, Feb. 15th
- 5:00-7:00PM Open House First United Methodist Church, 2941 S. Koke Mill
- Friday, Feb. 16th
- 4:00-6:00PM Open House St. Agnes Parish Hall, 245 N. Amos
- Tuesday, Feb. 20th
- 3:00-6:00PM Open House UIS Student Union Ballroom
- Wednesday, Feb. 21st
- 3:00-6:00PM Open House Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard St.
- Thursday, Feb. 22nd
- 4:00-6:00PM Open House Grandview Municipal Building, 1620 N. Milton
The public is encouraged to make written comment at one of the events, via the comment page on the website or via comments on any Facebook LIVE broadcast. Comments will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for review before the system re-design is voted on. No comments will be accepted after 4:30PM on February 23rd in order for staff to have time to compile comments for the board of trustees.
Posted
Due to construction on 5th Street only one bus will be able to park at Stop F at the downtown transfer center starting on Thursday, December 21st. Other routes that normally stop at F will be moved to other transfer stops.
- Route 18 will move to bus stop B
- Route 4 will move to bus stop A
- Route 3 will move to bus stop C
- Route 1 will stay at bus stop F
The construction is expected to conclude within a few days.
The Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators (IATAI) will be conducting crash tests at several locations near South Taylor and East Stanford on Wednesday, October 4th. Routes 10 and 11 will be detouring around the area from 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM.
Click here to open the above map in a new window.
Route 11 will be making trips from downtown to Capital City Shopping Center and back. A helper bus will be used to make connections between CCSC and the rest of the usual Route 11 south of Stevenson. Do not hesitate to contact our dispatch if you have questions: 217-522-5531
