The Rockford Mass Transit District is the public transportation operator for the Rockford metropolitan area, Illinois. Service is provided six days per week along 19 routes, with several of these routes being combined into five Sunday routes that service a large portion of the system. The core of the system is contained in The City Loop (Route 16 clockwise and 17 counterclockwise), which interconnects with every other service. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,156,800, or about 4,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.
 A RMTD bus at the downtown transit center in 2022 | |
| Founded | February 15, 1971 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 520 Mulberry Street Rockford, Illinois |
| Service area |
|
| Service type | Bus, Paratransit |
| Routes | 30 |
| Depots | 2 |
| Fleet | 40 buses |
| Daily ridership | 4,500 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 1,156,800 (2023)[2] |
| Fuel type | Diesel and gasoline |
| Website | rmtd.org |
History
edit
This section needs expansion with: Information from 1971 to 2020. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
On April 20, 2020, RMTD reduced its daily routes after six employees, including five drivers, tested positive for COVID-19.[3][4] The district later received a $9.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the CARES Act.[5]
In August 2020, the pre-COVID-19 route system resumed[6] and RMTD launched Token Transit, a mobile fare app that allows passengers to purchase bus passes on their cell phones.[7] The app displays a digital bus pass or ticket on the phone's screen, eliminating the need for a paper pass or cash.
On June 15, 2023, RMTD unveiled six new battery-electric buses, the first electric buses in the fleet. The buses will replace diesel buses from 2007, reducing carbon emissions by 4,500 metric tons annually. RMTD plans to have a fully electric fleet by 2036.[8]
Facilities
editThe Downtown Transfer Center, located at 501 West State Street, is the primary hub for the RMTD, serving 14 routes. The center opened February 11, 2019, replacing an earlier transfer facility at the same location. The transfer center provides riders with restrooms, vending machines, an indoor waiting area and a location to purchase tickets and passes. [9]
The East Side Transfer Center, located at 725 North Lyford Road, opened in 2012, serving buses and riders on the east side of Rockford with 4 routes. The transfer center provides riders with restrooms, vending machines, an indoor waiting area and a location to purchase tickets and passes. [10] In addition to serving RMTD buses, Greyhound Lines intercity buses also stop here.[11]
Fixed route ridership
editThe ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. [12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "RMTD reduces routes after 5 drivers test positive for COVID-19". Rockford Register Star. April 18, 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Rockford Mass Transit District announces changes to service". Rockford Register Star. April 18, 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "More than $9M to Rockford Mass Transit District for COVID-19 response". WIFR. July 1, 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Rockford Mass Transit District service returns Aug. 3". WIFR. July 27, 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "RMTD introduces new mobile ticketing app". Mass Transit Magazine. August 10, 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ John Jurgens (June 15, 2023). "RMTD unveils first fully-electric powered buses". 13 WREX. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "Rockford Mass Transit opens doors on renovated downtown bus station". My Stateline. February 11, 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Rockford Mass Transit District East Side Transfer Center". 26 August 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Destinations". Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
External links
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