Madison County Transit

[Chris H]

Since I live in the St. Louis area, I should share some info and pictures of transit agencies that run around here. Madison County Transit runs both local and express services for residents of Madison County, Illinois. The local is within Madison County, but they have buses that connects to a Metrolink lightrail station in East St. Louis. MCT's express service runs during the AM and PM rush hours; it starts in various cities within Madison County and goes to various destinations in downtown St. Louis and vice versa.

MCT runs 73 buses. They consist of 1997 New Flyer D40LFs (201-239), 1998 D30LFs (240-265), and Ford Cutaways.

Next year MCT will be running 40ft Gillig BRT buses. These BRTs are currently arriving to their facility, which will mean some of their 1997 New Flyers being retired.

Video of St. Louis area buses and lightrail:

http://www.youtube.com/user/chnchlla88#p/u/12/PAXGsUuQY5w

[R. McConnell]

One of my photos of Madison County Transit, taken near the Civic Center Station in St. Louis, from January of this year:

[MVTArider]

Since I live in the St. Louis area, I should share some info and pictures of transit agencies that run around here. Madison County Transit runs both local and express services for residents of Madison County, Illinois. The local is within Madison County, but they have buses that connects to a Metrolink lightrail station in East St. Louis. MCT's express service runs during the AM and PM rush hours; it starts in various cities within Madison County and goes to various destinations in downtown St. Louis and vice versa.

MCT runs 73 buses. They consist of 1997 New Flyer D40LFs (201-239), 1998 D30LFs (240-265), and Ford Cutaways.

Next year MCT will be running 40ft Gillig BRT buses. These BRTs are currently arriving to their facility, which will mean some of their 1997 New Flyers being retired.

Nice photos. Interesting that they have such an old fleet consisting entirely of one age period.

[BCT-3122-D800-10240]

Nice photos. Interesting that they have such an old fleet consisting entirely of one age period.

I almost suspect that entire fleet is about to be replaced within a year or two possibly? No?

[Chris H]

I almost suspect that entire fleet is about to be replaced within a year or two possibly? No?

All their 50 2010-11 Gillig BRTs (30ft, 35ft, and 40ft) have arrived to their facility. However, MCT is still using their Flyers from what I saw on Tuesday 1/25/11.

[septa105R5/seClip9]

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2...esel-buses.aspx

[Chris H]

Drove by MCT's facility yesterday and I see rows upon rows of New Flyers lined up. Many D40LFs and D30LFs are now parked, some with their bike racks removed. There are still some D40s and D30s left in service, but it looks like about 60% have been retired.

Here are some pics:

[Chris H]

Update on MCT, they still have 15 D40LFs out of the original 40 and only a hand full of D30LFs active. The Gillig BRTs are everywhere. MCT is in the process of auctioning/selling off their New Flyers, but they kept a few to use as extra capacity/service expansion buses.

The 2011 Gilligs range in three lengths and new numbering assignments indicate their length and quantity:

Gillig 40' BRT - 4001-20

Gillig 35' BRT - 3501-06

Gillig 30' BRT - 3001-24

Feel free to add this to the wiki and here are some pictures I took last week.

[A. Wong]

Cool, interesting suburban unit!

[Buzz2kb]

Update on MCT, they still have 15 D40LFs out of the original 40 and only a hand full of D30LFs active. The Gillig BRTs are everywhere. MCT is in the process of auctioning/selling off their New Flyers, but they kept a few to use as extra capacity/service expansion buses.

The 2011 Gilligs range in three lengths and new numbering assignments indicate their length and quantity:

Gillig 40' BRT - 4001-20

Gillig 35' BRT - 3501-06

Gillig 30' BRT - 3001-24

Feel free to add this to the wiki and here are some pictures I took last week.

From my visit last weekend, I saw tons of 30' BRT on MCT's "Shuttle" and "Cross County" routes, together with some cutaways; but only 3 40' BRT and no 35ft.'s. The 40ft. buses were spotted only on its "Regional" routes 5 and 18 that feeds into the MetroLink at East St. Louis. I'd therefore like to raise a few questions on MCT's current operations:

1. Are the 40' and 35' BRT's mostly "Express" and "Regional" buses?

2. Does MCT still operate any New Flyers?

3. Are the 30' BRT's pretty much the chief "Shuttle" and "Cross County" buses?

4. Are the 35' BRT's weekday-only buses?

Thanks!

[Chris H]

From my visit last weekend, I saw tons of 30' BRT on MCT's "Shuttle" and "Cross County" routes, together with some cutaways; but only 3 40' BRT and no 35ft.'s. The 40ft. buses were spotted only on its "Regional" routes 5 and 18 that feeds into the MetroLink at East St. Louis. I'd therefore like to raise a few questions on MCT's current operations:

1. Are the 40' and 35' BRT's mostly "Express" and "Regional" buses?

2. Does MCT still operate any New Flyers?

3. Are the 30' BRT's pretty much the chief "Shuttle" and "Cross County" buses?

4. Are the 35' BRT's weekday-only buses?

Thanks!

1. Yes, but they also use the 40' for special services such as the Muny Express every Friday during the Summer Muny performances.

2. Yes, there are some New Flyers still around, but they were demoted and are only used on weekdays for Express service in and out of St. Louis.

3. The 30' BRTs along with the Ford cutaways are the backbone of MCT's shuttle and cross county fleet.

4. The 35' BRTs are mainly used on weekdays on regional and express routes.

[cschnur15]

I ride these buses daily! I rode 3035 this morning! 2012 Gillig BRT (Cummins ISL9, Allison Transmission, Twin Vision destination sign!) To bad I never got to ride the new-flyers!!

 

[Buzz2kb]

It's time to open up my own MCT collection taken on my two visits to St. Louis area in 2011 and 2014!  As everyone is now aware, Gillig BRT's are the mainstay of MCT's heavy-duty operations.  The 3000 series are 29ft. buses and are used on most "Shuttle" and "Cross County" routes.  Bus 3004 was spotted at the Alton Station and sister us 3007 at Wood River Station.  The 4000 series of 40ft. buses are mostly used on "Express" and "Regional" duties, with buses 4020 and 4021 spotted at Collinsville and Granite City stations respectively.  Unfortunately, I was not able to notice/spot any of the 2012 buses in either series in my 2014 visit.  For lower-ridership routes/trips, a fleet of cutaway with Turtle Top bodies is also used.  Ford Cutaways 146 and 157 belong to the previous generation of buses, and were spotted at Edwardsville and Granite Station respectively. Chevy cutaways 75 and 78 were spotted at Collinsville Station and represent MCT's current cutaway fleet.  All but the Chevy cutaways were pictured in 2011.  Here is my Madison County Transit gallery:

Madison County Transit (Illinois)

[cschnur15]

Unfortunately the Cutaways have been replaced by 2017 Ford Cutaways! 79-91. And Nice Pictures!

[Buzz2kb]

53 minutes ago, cschnur15 said:

Unfortunately the Cutaways have been replaced by 2017 Ford Cutaways! 79-91. And Nice Pictures!

So do the new Fords also have Turtle Top bodies?  Thanks!

[cschnur15]

Yes! They do!

[cschnur15]

Madison County Transit is supposed to get 5 new 40' Foot Transit Buses. The grant is for CNG. As well as 22, (2019 Ford Fusions) to replace 2016 Ford Focus Driver Relief cars. Also getting around 20 New Turtletop ACT buses.

[cschnur15]

Also I have a treat. I forgot I recorded these sound clips of the stop requested and the 10 State and Elm Shuttle announcments.  

 

Links....

10 to Alton Station in Downtown Alton, IL - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Btvtd7bzLziIIm34LTEzuiAbahOV-37w/view?usp=sharing

10 Alton Muiltmodal Transit Center (Alton, IL) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RIh9WnNIcNkaPAkTbPxo2W75FPEK3Md3/view?usp=sharing

10 to Lewis and Clark Commuity College (Godfrey, IL) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xy4oYyQl4RM5dRYwdPZFcculihaY5A94/view?usp=sharing

10 to Challange Unlimited, (Theres only 2 trips that use this code/announcement) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1As4lb56ws8drS2v7GbsqF7V68tiPlQkY/view?usp=sharing

There is also 10 to Walmart, Which I need to ride again and record it.

Stop Requested https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qnzhzS6GyZ2IvhkmeqnlXo0_gNDm4PlW/view?usp=sharing

 

Thought it would be cool to share some announcement audio clips. Hope you enjoy! 

[cschnur15]

Also back in March of 2016 we had an NFI Excelsior XD40 demo unit in the MCT lot confirmed by a MCT driver.

[cschnur15]

Last Thursday, It was my first time riding the #1 Riverbend. I rode from Alton Station to Wood-River Station. It was also my first time on a 35'. It was a VERY nice ride!

[cschnur15]

Thursday, I spend around 1 hour at Alton Station.. And took some pictures.   

Unit#3504 (2010 Gillig BRT 35')

3503 (2010 Gillig BRT 35')

 4028 (2012 Gillig BRT 40' Cummins ISL9, Allison B400R)

3037 (2012 Gillig BRT 29, Cummins ISL9 Allison)

3014 (2010 Gillig BRT 29' Cummins ISL9 Voith)

Taken today at Alton Station (2011 Gillig BRT 29' Cummins ISL9, Voith)

[alisonc]

That’s a really nice livery. It flows with the lines of the coach. 

[cschnur15]

 84 2017 Ford Turtletop was on the 12 Bethalto Shuttle. Appoligise the photo quality, Left the camara at home.

[cschnur15]

Before Madison County Transit got their buses in the 1980s-1990s, Bi-State Developement Agency (St. Louis Metro) ran some of MCT's routes. They had 30 footer Fishbowls that ran the "Alton Bustle" and the  "Levee Line".  Someone in the bus lounge told me yesterday, And I thought I would share this history! 

[Chris H]

^ That is an interesting fact, which I didn't know. So I am assuming the 1997 New Flyer D30LF and D40LFs were their first true buses rather than using Bi-State buses. MCT also runs many biking trails throughout Madison County as well.