Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District

Champaign–Urbana
Mass Transit District
Illinois Terminal, transit hub for Champaign
FoundedDecember 15, 1970 (1970-12-15)[1]
Commenced operationAugust 2, 1971 (1971-08-02)[1]
HeadquartersUrbana, Illinois
Service area
Service type
StationsIllinois Terminal
Fleet114 buses[2]
Daily ridership32,700 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[3]
Annual ridership8,947,600 (2023)[4]
Fuel type
Chief executiveKarl Gnadt
Websitemtd.org

The Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District (colloquially known as the MTD) is a mass transit system that operates in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area in central-eastern Illinois. MTD is headquartered in Urbana and operates its primary hub at the intermodal Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 8,947,600, or about 32,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

At the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, which lies within the District, all students pay a $59 transportation fee every semester in exchange for unlimited use of the bus services. Primarily funded by property taxes, MTD currently levies about 28 cents of property taxes per $100 of assessed valuation; bus fares are another primary source of funding. MTD is led by a seven-member Board of Trustees, who are appointed by the Champaign County Board. Buses are produced by the Canadian company New Flyer and the American company Gillig. MTD introduced hybrid buses to its fleet in Fall 2009, and currently the vast majority of its buses are hybrid. Minibuses used for paratransit service, SafeRides service, and (occasionally) fixed route service, are cutaway vans with a Ford E series chassis.

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

MTD Buses on Wright Street, with 2001 Diesel D60LF, 2011 Diesel-Electric Low Floor DE40LFR, and 2021 Diesel Electric Xcelsior XDE40.

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.[5] In 1986 and 1994, it was the recipient of the American Public Transit Association's Outstanding Achievement Award.[6]

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.

A New Flyer D40LF bus at Lincoln Square (retired in 2020)

Today the MTD provides over 11 million rides per year.[7] 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.[8] All University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff have unlimited access to all routes and services.


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:

  • October 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.
  • September 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.[9]

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.[10][11]

Facilities

A typical MTD bus stop in Urbana, Illinois on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, with a 2020 New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 operating for 120 TEAL
Administration and Operations Offices
1101 E. University Avenue, Urbana, IL. 40°06′55″N 88°11′43″W / 40.11528°N 88.19528°W / 40.11528; -88.19528
Maintenance Department and Bus Garage
803 E. University Avenue, Urbana, IL. 40°06′57″N 88°11′53″W / 40.11583°N 88.19806°W / 40.11583; -88.19806
Illinois Terminal
45 E. University Avenue, Champaign, IL. 40°06′57″N 88°14′27″W / 40.11583°N 88.24083°W / 40.11583; -88.24083
Wright Street Transit Plaza
S. Wright Street, between Daniel and John. 40°06′31″N 88°13′44″W / 40.10861°N 88.22889°W / 40.10861; -88.22889
Downtown Urbana Transfer Point
Broadway Avenue just north of Lincoln Square, between Main and Elm. 40°06′43″N 88°12′27″W / 40.11194°N 88.20750°W / 40.11194; -88.20750

Bus routes

Bold – Main portion of route
Hopper interval – Including regular service, for example, 30 minute of yellow and 10 minute of YELLOWHopper means the first 10 and 20 buses are YELLOWhopper and then 30 bus is yellow.
Weekday Daytime Routes

Route Terminals Major streets traveled Interval
North/West South/East
1 Yellow Wal-Mart Champaign ↔ Research Park
  • Town Center Blvd via Market Place
  • Market St
  • Bradley Ave
  • Randolph St (northbound) / State St (southbound)
  • White St via Illinois Terminal
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • Gregory Dr
  • First St
  • Fox Dr, Lyndhurst Dr
  • Woodfield Dr via Savoy Plaza
 30 minutes
Illinois Terminal Willard Airport
YELLOWHopper Illinois Terminal ↔ Lot E-14

10 minutes (Northbound before 3:00 pm and southbound after 2:30 pm)

  • Every other bus terminates at either lot E-14 or Research Park.

20 minutes (Other)

  • Terminates only at Research Park
2 Red Market Place ↔ Lincoln Square
  • Neil St
  • Main St via Illinois Terminal
  • White St
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Goodwin Ave via south Urbana
  • Philo Rd via Meijer Urbana and Sunnycrest
  • Cottage Grove Ave
 30 minutes
Red Express ↔ Illini Union 1 hour: 2–5 pm
  • U of I days
  • Does not serve Market Place
3 Lavender Walmart Champaign ↔ Illinois Terminal
  • Boardwalk Dr (northbound) / Prospect Ave (southbound)
  • Anthony Dr, Queens Way
  • Mattis Ave, Paula Dr, Bloomington Rd
  • Harris Ave, Vine St
  • Randolph St (northbound) / State St (southbound)
  • Main St via Illinois Terminal
 30 minutes
4 Blue Country Fair ↔ Illinois Terminal
  • Crescent Dr, Mattis Ave
  • John St
  • Randolph St (westbound) / State St (westbound)
  • Stadium Dr, Peabody Dr
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • University Ave
 30 minutes
5 Green Maplepark Dr & Lawndale Dr ↔ Main St & Brady Ln
  • Kenwood Td, Westfield Dr (westbound)
  • Maplepark Dr, John St (eastbound)
  • Springfield Ave via Country Fair
  • Randolph St (westbound) / State St (westbound)
  • Neil St via Illinois Terminal
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Vine St via Lincoln Square
  • Fairlawn Dr, Pennsylvania Ave
  • Florida Ave via Sunnycrest
  • Kinch St, Country Squire Dr
  • Lierman Ave, Main St
  • Brady Ln, Washington St
 30 minutes

Buses operate in Washington St & Lierman Ave Loop as follow:

  • Before noon, clockwise
  • After noon, counterclockwise
GREENhopper State St & John St ↔ Washington St & Lierman Ave 15 minutes
  • U of I days
5X Green Express Curtis Rd & Wynstone Dr ↔ Sixth St & Pennsylvania Ave
  • Cherry Hills Dr, Maynard Dr
  • Kirby Ave, Kenwood Rd
  • Springfield Ave via Country Fair
  • Nail St
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Goodwin Ave
  • Gregory via Main Library
  • Fourth St

Does not serve Illinois Terminal
Limited Service

  • eastbound am-trips (6:30–8:30 am)
  • westbound pm-trips (2:20–5:30 pm)
6 Orange Country Fair or Plastipak ↔ Wal-Mart Urbana
  • Springfield Ave via Country Fair
  • Country Fair Dr
  • Church St (westbound) / West University Ave (eastbound)
  • East University Ave via Illinois Terminal
  • Park St, Church St
  • Broadway Ave via Lincoln Square
  • Main St via Urbana post office and Wal-Mart Urbana
 30 minutes
  • Only the first and last two trip serve Plastipak.
ORANGEhopper Illinois Terminal ↔ Lincoln Square

15 minutes

7 Grey Parkland College ↔ Dodson East Dr & Slayback Rd or Lierman Ave & Butzow Dr
  • Bradley Ave, Williamsburg Dr
  • McKinley Ave, Prospect Ave
  • Church St (westbound) / University (eastbound) via Illinois Terminal
  • Second St, Fifth St
  • Romine St, Wright St
  • Park St, Fairview Ave, Church St
  • Broadway Ave, Vine St via Lincoln Square
  • University Ave via Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District

30 minutes

  • Only before 9 am and after 2:30 pm, buses serve Slayback Rd and do not serve Butzow Dr.
  • Other times, buses terminate at Lierman Ave & Butzow Dr.
8 Bronze Transit Plaza ↔ Lincoln Square

Westbound

  • Pennsylvania Ave
  • Fourth St
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza

Eastbound

  • Goodwin Ave via Illini Union
  • Orchard St
  • Vine St
  • Race St
 40–60 minutes
9A Brown Parkland College via Clockwise

Illinois Terminal
Transit Plaza
Country Fair

  • Bradley Ave
  • State St via Illinois Terminal
  • White St
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • St Mary's Rd, Fox Dr, Devonshire Dr
  • Galen Dr
  • Windsor Rd
  • Winchester Dr, Crescent Dr via Country Fair
  • Duncan Rd, Clayton Blvd
 30 minutes
9B via Counterclockwise

Country Fair
Transit Plaza
Illinois Terminal

10 Gold Broadmoor Dr & Mayfair Rd ↔ Lincoln Square
  • Mattis Ave
  • Kirby Ave
  • First St via Lot E-14
  • Gregory Dr via Main Library
  • Goodwin Ave
  • Springfield Ave via Lincoln Square
  • Broadway Ave
  • Brownfield Rd
  • High Cross Rd
 30 minutes
  • Before 11 am buses operate counterclockwise to Richardson Estates.
  • At noon buses terminate at Cunningham Ave.
  • After 2 pm buses operate clockwise to Richardson Estates.
Lot E-14 ↔ Richardson Estates or Cunningham Ave
GOLDhopper Lot E-14 ↔ Lincoln Square 10 minutes
11 Ruby Lincoln Square Courthouse ↔ Airport & Cunningham
  • Cunningham & Perkins
  • Willow & Beason (Northbound) / Liberty & Jefferson (Southbound)
  • Randolph St (westbound) / State St (westbound)
 40 minutes (Limited service)
12 Teal Illinois Terminal ↔ FAR-PAR or
Orchard Downs
  • White St
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Goodwin Ave via FAR-PAR
  • Orchard St
 10 minutes
  • U of I days
  • Every other bus terminates at either PAR or Orchard Downs.
Teal Limited ↔ Orchard Downs 20 minutes
  • Non U of I days
13 Silver Lincoln Square ↔ FAR-PAR or
Vet-Med
  • Springfield Ave
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • Gregory Dr via Main Library and FAR-PAR
  • Lincoln Ave

10 minutes (U of I days)
20 minutes (Non U of I days)

14 Navy Mullikin Dr & Kirby Ave or Lot E-14 ↔ Illinois Terminal
  • Mullikin Dr
  • Windsor Rd
  • Fox Dr, St Mary's Rd via Lot E-14
  • First St

This is a limited service which consists of
50–60 minutes (to/from Mullikin Dr)

  • 4 eastbound am-trips (7-9 am,9:22am)
  • 3 westbound pm-trips (4-6 pm)

20 minutes (from Lot E-14)

  • 5 eastbound am-trips (7:20, 7:45–9:05 am)
16 Pink Village at the Crossing ↔ Fieldstone at Horizon Hobby or Country Fair
  • Stephens Family YMCA
  • Kirby and Cobblefield

30 minutes (Fieldstone at Horizon Hobby) or 45 minutes (Country Fair)

  • 3 northbound trips terminate at Country Fair (2 in the morning, 1 in the evening)
  • 3 southbound trips start at Country Fair (all in the morning)
  • All other trips run to and from Fieldstone at Horizon Hobby
22 Illini North Lincoln ↔ FAR-PAR
  • North Lincoln Ave
  • North Goodwin Ave via Engineer
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • Armory Ave (northbound) / Chalmers St (southbound)
  • First St via ARC
  • Gregory Dr via Main Library
  • South Goodwin Ave via ISR
  • South Lincoln Ave
 10 minutes
  • U of I days
Illini Limited ↔ Transit Plaza 30 minutes
  • Non U of I days

Weekday Evening Routes

Route Terminals Major streets traveled Interval
North/West South/East
50 Green Parkland College ↔ Orchard Downs
  • Bradley Ave, Country Fair Dr
  • Springfield Ave via Country Fair
  • Randolph St (westbound) / State St (westbound)
  • Nail St via Illinois Terminal
  • Green St via Illini Union
  • Vine St via Lincoln Square
  • Fairlawn Dr, Pennsylvania Ave
  • Florida Ave via Sunnycrest
  • Philo Rd via Meijer Urbana
  • Windsor Rd
  • Orchard Downs Dr
 30 minutes
GREENhopper Prospect Ave & John St ↔ Colorado Ave & PhiloRd 15 minutes
  • U of I days
70 Grey Parkland College ↔ Lincoln Square
  • Bradley Ave, Bloomington Rd
  • Randolph St (northbound) / State St (southbound)
  • Main St via Illinois Terminal
  • Second St, Fifth St
  • Rommie St, Wright St
  • Park St, Fairview Ave, Church St
  • Broadway St, Vine St
 30 minutes
100 Yellow Wal-Mart Champaign ↔ Willard Airport
  • Town Center Blvd via Market Place
  • Market St
  • Bradley Ave, Columbia Ave'
  • Main St via Illinois Terminal
  • White St
  • Wright St via Transit Plaza
  • Gregory Dr, Hessel St
  • State St, First St
  • Woodfield Dr via Savoy Plaza
 30 minutes
120 Teal Illinois Terminal ↔ Orchard Downs Refer 12 Teal 20 minutes
130 Silver Lincoln Square ↔ FAR-PAR or
Vet-Med 		Refer 13 Silver

20 minutes

  • U of I days
  • Every other bus terminates at either PAR or Vet-Med.
Silver Limited ↔ Transit Plaza

20 minutes

  • Non U of I days
180A Lime Country Fair via Clockwise
  • Mattis Ave via Old Farm
  • Kirby Ave, Crescent Dr
  • Windsor Rd
  • Duncan Rd, Westfield Dr
 30 minutes
180B via Counterclockwise
220 Illini North Lincoln ↔ FAR-PAR Refer 22 Illini 10 minutes
  • U of I days
Illini Limited ↔ Transit Plaza 30 minutes
  • Non U of I days
335 SafeRides Demand responsive U of I days
Begins at
  • 5 pm (When daylight saving is observed)
  • 7 pm

Designated pickups discontinued March 2019. Customers must now use MTD Connect app or call a MTD dispatcher to request service.

Weekday Late Night Routes U of I days only

Route Terminals Major streets traveled Interval
North/West South/East
50 Green Illinois Terminal ↔ Lincoln Square Refer 50 Green

20 minutes (before 3 am)
30 minutes (until 5 am of Friday night)

100 Yellow Wal-Mart Champaign or
Illinois Terminal (after 3 am) 		↔ Lot E-14 Refer 100 Yellow
  • Does not serve Market Place
 30 minutes (until 3 am except Friday night 5 am)
120 Teal Illinois Terminal ↔ Orchard Downs Refer 12 Teal 20 minutes (until 3 am)
130 Silver Lincoln Square ↔ FAR-PAR Refer 13 Silver 20 minutes (until 3 am except Friday night 5 am)
220 Illini North Lincoln ↔ FAR-PAR Refer 22 Illini 10 minutes (until 3 am except Friday night 5 am)
335 SafeRides until 6:30 am

Saturday Daytime Routes

Route Terminals Major streets traveled Interval
North/West South/East
20 Red Wal-Mart Champaign ↔ Sunnycrest Refer 2 Red
  • Does not serve south Urbana and Meijer Urbana
 30 minutes
30 Lavender Meijer Champaign ↔ Illinois Terminal Refer 3 Lavender
  • Does not serve Harris Ave, Vine St, Randolph St, and State St
  • Serves Prospect Ave and Church St (northbound) / University Ave (southbound)
 30 minutes
50 Green Country Fair ↔ Orchard Downs Refer 50 Green

30 minutes

70 Grey Country Fair ↔ Lincoln Square Refer 70 Grey
  • Does not serve Parkland College
 30 minutes
100 Yellow Wal-Mart Champaign ↔ Willard Airport Refer 100 Yellow
 30 minutes
110 Ruby University & Cottage Grove ↔ Airport & Cunningham
  • Lincoln Square
  • Cunningham & Perkins
  • Willow & Beason (Northbound) / Brownfield & Columbia (Southbound)
 1 hour
120 Teal Illinois Terminal ↔ Orchard Downs Refer 12 Teal 20 minutes
130 Silver Lincoln Square ↔ FAR-PAR or Vet-Med Refer 13 Silver 20 minutes
  • U of I days
  • Two buses (:40 and :00 at FAR) terminate at Vet-Med. Others terminate at PAR.
Silver Limited ↔ Transit Plaza 20 minutes
  • Non U of I days
180A Lime Country Fair via Clockwise

Refer 180 Lime

30 minutes
180B via Counterclockwise
220 Illini Limited North Lincoln ↔ Transit Plaza Refer 22 Illini 30 minutes
280 tranSPORT U of I Campus ↔ Memorial Stadium
  • Goodwin Ave
  • Gregory Dr
  • Fourth St
 Runs before and after home football games

Sunday Daytime & Late Night Routes

  • 30 Lavender
  • 50 Green
  • 70 Grey
  • 100 Yellow
  • 110 Ruby
  • 120 Teal
  • 130 Silver
  • 180 Lime A
  • 180 Lime B
  • 220 Illini
  • 335 SafeRides (flex service)

Bus fleet

[12] MTD's fixed route fleet consists entirely of buses manufactured by New Flyer Industries. Articulated buses were historically used primarily on routes 12 Teal, 13 Silver and 22 Illini on school days, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic they are now used system-wide to promote social distancing. MTD formerly operated midibuses produced by Gillig and Eldorado National, but they were retired in 2021 and 2017, respectively. MTD also operated Ford E450 and RAM 3500 shuttle buses for SafeRide on campus and ADA services.

Image Builder and model name Model year Length Numbers
(Total ordered) 		Energy source Notes
MTD Bus 1164 New Flyer DE40LFR
 New Flyer
DE40LFR 		2011 40 ft (12 m) 1162–1197 (36 buses) Diesel-Electric Hybrid
  • Feature optional roof fairing
  • Feature Allison EP40 parallel hybrid system.
  • Last New Flyer DE40LFR buses ever built
  • 1175 features green and yellow livery (same as New Flyer DE60LFRs and Gillig BRTs).
  • 1167, 1186 and 1197 are retired.
  • To be retired in 2024-2025.
MTD Bus 2146 New Flyer XDE40 in Ride with Pride livery
 New Flyer
XE40 		2012–2022 40 ft (12 m) 1346–1355, 1601–1612, 1713–1734, 1835–1837, 1938–1939, 2040–2044, 2145-2149, 2200-2203, 2414-2421 (71 buses) Diesel-Electric Hybrid
  • Replaced all New Flyer D40LF, Eldorado EZ-Rider and Gillig BRT buses.
  • 1300 series feature Allison EP40 parallel hybrid system; all other units feature BAE HybriDrive series hybrid system.
  • 1600 series and newer buses feature USB charging ports.
  • 1800 series and newer buses feature all-LED headlights; most older buses have been retrofitted with them as well.
  • 2000 series and newer buses feature new livery, new vinyl seats and top-mounted rear turn signals.
  • 2100 series and newer buses feature new rear doors, new flooring, and tinted rear windows.
  • 2200 series buses feature automatic engine stop system, which shuts down the engine during idling.
  • 1353 wrapped for Research Park
  • 1601 wrapped for Krannert Center, removed as of 10/2022
  • 1721 and 1724 wrapped for OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, 1721 removed as of late 2022, 1724 livery design renovated in summer 2023, removed 03/2024
  • 1715 wrapped for 4th of July Parade, exterior changed to 1776, interior kept 1715 07/2023 - 09/2023
  • 1715 wrapped for Krannert Center 09/2023
  • 1716 / 1719 / 1726 wrapped for Patel Law, PC
  • 1718 and 1724 wrapped for CEFCU 03/2024
  • 1720 wrapped for JSM Living
  • 1727 and 1734 wrapped for Chittick Eye Care
  • 1730 wrapped for Siebel Center for Design, removed 10/2022
  • 1730 wrapped for Patel Law, PC 03/2024
  • 1733 wrapped for Juneteenth 04/2024
  • 2146 wrapped Ride with Pride 09/2022 to 11/26/2022
  • 2146 wrapped Transit is for EVERYONE! / Christmas 11/26/2022 to 01/08/2023
  • 2146 wrapped for Research Park Summer 2023
  • 2148 wrapped with "You can always sit with us" sticker Summer 2023
MTD Bus 2105 New Flyer XDE60
 New Flyer
XDE60 		2020-2023 60 ft (18 m) 2017–2022, 2103-2105, 2260-2263, 2364-2367 (17 buses) Diesel-Electric Hybrid
  • Replaced all New Flyer D60LF and New Flyer DE60LFR buses.
  • Feature new livery, new vinyl seats and top-mounted rear turn signals.
  • Feature BAE HybriDrive series hybrid system.
  • 2100 series and newer buses feature new rear doors, new flooring, and tinted rear windows.
  • 2200 series and newer feature automatic engine stop system, which shuts down the engine during idling.
  • 2300 series feature new top-mounted rear turn signals and tailghts.
MTD Bus 2102 New Flyer XHE60
 New Flyer
XHE60 		2021 60 ft (18 m) 2101-2102 (2 buses) Hydrogen Fuel Cell
  • Delivered summer 2021.
  • Feature new livery, new vinyl seats and top-mounted rear turn signals.
  • Feature unopenable passenger windows, white LED destination signs, and tan instead of blue passenger seats, unlike diesel-electric hybrid buses
  • 2101 wrapped in fox "Ride Fur Life" stickers, 2102 wrapped in butterfly "Flutterly Fabulous" stickers.
  • First commercial order of articulated hydrogen fuel cell buses in the United States.
  • Entered service fall 2021.
MTD Bus 2313 New Flyer XHE40
 New Flyer
XHE40 		2023 40 ft (12 m) 2304-2313 (10 buses) Hydrogen Fuel Cell
  • Feature new livery, new vinyl seats and top-mounted rear turn signals and taillights.
  • Built to same specifications as New Flyer XHE60s.
  • Confirmed wraps: 2304 duck "Pollution Reducktion", 2305 frog "Hop On", 2306 cardinal "Nest Generation", 2307 bee "New Beeginning", 2308 rabbit “Smooth Hoperator”, 2309 squirrel "Climb Up", 2310 "Dig This", 2312 owl "Owl Aboard", 2313 mantis
  • Entered service February 2024.
MTD Bus 1805 Ford E450 Shuttlebus
 Ford E450 2010-2018 N/A N/A Gasoline
  • Operating for ADA Services and SafeRide
  • Feature ADA side lift
  • Used to operate fixed routes, though not seen in recent years
  • 1802, 1804 wrapped in new livery
MTD Bus 2106 RAM 3500 Shuttlebus
 RAM 3500 2021 N/A 2106

(1 bus)

Gasoline
  • Operating for ADA Services and SafeRide
  • Feature flat floor for ADA access
MTD Bus 2281 Ford ExpressVan 4500
 Chevrolet ExpressVan 4500 2022 N/A 2280-2282

(3 buses)

Gasoline
  • Operating for ADA Services and SafeRide
  • Feature ADA side lift

Future Fleet

Builder and model name Model year Length Energy source Notes
New Flyer XDE40 2025 40 Ft (12 m) Diesel-Electric Hybrid
  • 25 buses
  • To replace all remaining New Flyer DE40LFR

Fixed Route Ridership

The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. [13]

2,500,000
5,000,000
7,500,000
10,000,000
12,500,000
15,000,000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "FAQs". Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Jane (2015-11-02). "Green Light MTD's Fleet is Growing". Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. ^ City Bus History--CU MTD site
  6. ^ "American Public Transportation Association past awards page". Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  7. ^ History: Buses | MTD
  8. ^ Fares & Passes | MTD
  9. ^ Daily Illini: Channick family settles lawsuit for $1.25 million Archived June 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Daily Illini: More changes likely for MTD Archived June 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Champaign County Regional Planning Commission: About CATS
  12. ^ https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/Champaign–Urbana_Mass_Transit_District [dead link‍]
  13. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
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