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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:

SJ Morrison
Madison County Transit
(618) 874-7433

MCT IMPROVES #14X HIGHLAND EXPRESS FOR AUGUST 2008

Trips Added in Response to Ridership Overloads

Click here for the NEW #14X schedule, effective August 18, 2008

GRANITE CITY, ILL., JULY 1, 2008 . . . At a time when rising fuel prices are driving increased bus ridership beyond capacity, Madison County Transit (MCT) will significantly improve the #14X Highland Express – creating the most frequent express bus service in the region. MCT Express routes are those that travel to St. Louis and MetroLink from designated stops in Madison County. The #14X provides service to and from Highland, St. Jacob and Troy at park & ride lots along U.S. 40. Beginning August 18, three additional morning and three additional afternoon trips will be added Monday through Friday, creating a one-hour period when buses will leave for St. Louis every 10 minutes. The #14X currently provides 15-minute service from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., with comparable return service from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The improvement to the #14X expands the number of trips in the morning from 11 to 14, with the same level of service in the afternoon.

“This service improvement not only eliminates the immediate challenge of overcrowding on the #14X, it provides the necessary capacity for future growth.” said Dan Corbett, Chairman of the MCT Board of Trustees. The upcoming service enhancement is the result of regular standees on the #14X Highland Express. Ridership in June on the #14X increased by 25% over June 2007, creating daily overloads and forcing dozens of people to stand. After monitoring ridership trends and surveying passengers, the decision was made by the MCT Board of Trustees to improve the service at the upcoming service change in August.

“With fuel prices on the rise, demand for this premium service has outgrown capacity,” said MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane. “Never in my career has the transit industry experienced this type of ridership growth.” For a new #14X schedule, effective Aug. 18, 2008, visit www.mct.org. New timetables will be available in early August. For more information or assistance, please contact MCT at 931-RIDE (7433), Option #3.

Madison County Transit (MCT) enhances the mobility of the St. Louis region by providing multi-modal transportation services. MCT operates a fixed-route bus service, connecting to MetroLink; express weekday commuter service directly to and from downtown St. Louis; and seasonal express service to the Rams games and the Muny. For elderly and disabled residents who are unable to use the fixed-route buses, MCT provides complementary paratransit bus service. MCT is also responsible for the construction and maintenance of more than 85 miles of trails in Madison County that comprise the MCT trails bikeway system, as well as overseeing RideFinders, the St. Louis region’s FREE carpooling and vanpooling program. For more information on MCT services, routes and schedules, call (618) 931-7433, Option 3, or visit www.mct.org.