uiuc mtd trip planner

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The University of Illinois is fortunate to have an exceptional public transit network available for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

• The  Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District  (MTD) provides frequent bus service around campus during the academic year
• Disability Resources and Educational Services  provides curb-to-curb paratransit rides on campus
• Illinois Terminal , just one mile from campus, offers three Amtrak trains daily to Chicago and Carbondale, and intercity buses to various destinations

The university contracts with the MTD  to provide bus service throughout campus. Because of this agreement, the university i-card serves as a full-access MTD bus pass for any route served by the bus service. MTD schedules, maps, and transit district information are available online at MTD.org . Learn more about riding on MTD buses on MTD’s Riding Tips . All MTD buses are ADA accessible and equipped with a lift and a bike rack (can accommodate two bicycles at a time).

Track Your Ride

MTD's STOPwatch technology tracks the exact location of each bus and projects the departure time for any given stop location in real time. Every intersection and major destination in the community has a unique identifying number, so riders can use text messaging, the internet, or the stationary displays throughout campus to know when to catch the bus. There are several web and mobile applications to plan your trips or track your ride. Read more about these apps here . Following are the recommended apps for Web, Android, and iOS users: Web: MTD.org , UIUC Bus Android: Token Transit , Transit: Real-time Transit App , CU Transit: Bus and Navigation iOS: Token Transit , Transit for CUMTD , My Bus Helper: MTD Plan your trips using the aforementioned apps or go to MTD's Trip Planner .

The purpose of 335 SafeRides Connect is to provide safe transportation to individuals who are generally traveling alone and when no other means of safe transportation are available within the designated 335 SafeRides Connect boundaries. SafeRides are available from dusk (7 p.m./5 p.m.) until 6 a.m. There is a maximum limit of three persons per pick-up location. SafeRides does not duplicate fixed-route service already provided by MTD. SafeRides does not provide emergency transportation services to medical facilities. SafeRides does not provide service to and from bars. Download the SafeRides Connect App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and register yourself. Open the App, enter your origin, destination, number of people, and tap “Create Journey.” The App will determine if a fixed-route trip is appropriate and will provide an itinerary. If no fixed route is appropriate, a 335 SafeRide Connect trip will be offered. Tap “Book Trip” to accept the ride. Then monitor the App for updated trip information. You can also call 217.265.7433. Provide the dispatcher with the following information: your name (first and last), phone number, email address, pick-up location (street address/landmark), and destination. If your trip is within the 335 SafeRides Connect boundaries, the dispatcher will enter the trip into the system and will give you the details of the trip. Expect waiting times of 15 minutes during the week, and up to 30 minutes on the weekend when demand is higher. Upon arriving at a pick-up location, the 335 SafeRides Connect operator will only wait two minutes for passengers to board before continuing to the next scheduled pick-up/drop-off location. Requests for 335 SafeRides Connect will be taken until 6 a.m. for trips to be completed by 6:30 a.m. Learn more about SafeRides here .

SafeWalks is a courtesy service provided by the University of Illinois Public Safety  department to University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff. To request a SafeWalks escort, call 217-333-1216 . You can also use an emergency phone to contact a dispatcher.

Please give at least 15 minutes notice.

Hours of Operation

9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday (calls taken until 2:15 a.m.) 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., Thursday, Friday or Saturday (calls taken until 2:45 a.m.)

SafeWalks is a free service provided by Student Patrol. Visit our employment page for more information on how to join Student Patrol . Read more about SafeWalks and SafeRides here .

Campus Routes

Bus routes such as Green, Gold, Yellow, and Teal, create a box pattern and connect the four corners of campus with the Champaign and Urbana downtown areas. These are high-frequency routes with 10-minute service. There are several other bus routes that connect our campus to the communities. The Illini and Silver routes are dedicated to serving the campus and have bus service every 10-minute during the academic year. Learn more about MTD routes and bus services here .

Traveling with Bikes

MTD buses are equipped with bike racks that hold two bicycles at a time. There is no extra charge for using the bike racks, but if the racks are full, you may need to wait for the next bus. Properly folded folding bikes may be brought on board if they do not block the aisle or doors. MTD’s Riding Tips  offers more information about traveling with a bike.

CUMTD Bus Lunch and Learn Program

Want to teach your group more about taking the local buses? Think employees or students will benefit from knowing more about transit? F&S and CU-MTD have teamed up to provide a free one hour session explaining the bus service on campus, the benefits to using buses, and answering and questions about transit in the area.

P aratransit

Disability Resources and Educational Services ( DRES ) provides disability-related supports and services for students with disabilities at the University of Illinois, including assistance with academics, living accommodations, athletics, campus life, health and wellness, and paratransit. DRES' Office of Accessibility and Transportation Services offers regular route rides, night rides, call-in service, and rides for special events within the University Campus District. In addition, DRES provides rides to Willard Airport, the Illinois Terminal, and various off-campus locations. All buses are lift-equipped. DRES' Getting Around page provides more information. MTD also has a ADA paratransit transportation system. Click here for additional information .

I ntercity T ravel

Illinois Terminal at 45 E. University Avenue in Champaign provides a central transfer point for the local MTD bus service, intercity buses, and Amtrak train service.

Greyhound , Burlington Trailways , Peoria Charter , and Bestway Charter Transportation are some of the charter companies that provide transportation to other cities from the Illinois Terminal and/or campus location(s).

Amtrak  provides train service at the Illinois Terminal station for the daily Chicago-Carbondale Illini and Saluki trains, and the Chicago-New Orleans City of New Orleans, also operating daily.

Amtrak operates passenger rail service throughout most of the United States, serving cities and towns in 45 states. Customers should visit the Illinois Terminal Station in Champaign, call 1-800-USA-RAIL, or see an authorized Amtrak travel agent, for details on any Amtrak service. Ticketing, schedules, and service information are also available at the Amtrak site .

University of Illinois Willard Airport offers daily flights to three destinations: Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas/Ft. Worth, including regional jet service to Chicago O'Hare Airport.

T ransit S afety

• Do not step into the roadway until the bus has stopped and the door has opened.
• Use the handrail when boarding and exiting.
• Cross at least 10 feet in front of a bus so other drivers can see you.
• Special areas are designated for elderly customers and those with disabilities. Please surrender these seats when needed.
• Never stick your arms or legs in the doors to prevent them from closing.
• Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
• Keep aisles clear of feet, books, bags, etc.
• Allow other passengers to exit before you board.
• Never leave any personal belongings unattended. Carry your valuables inside your garment. Securely clasp your purse or bag.

Related Resources

• Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)
• Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD)
• MTD Trip Planner
• Bus Stop Information
• Bikes on Buses

Stacey DeLorenzo Transportation Demand Management Coordinator 217-300-1750 [email protected] Sarthak Prasad Sustainable Transportation Assistant 217-300-9575 [email protected] DRES Student Services Phone: (217) 333-4603 Business Phone: (217) 333-1970 MTD Phone: 217.384.8188 SafeRides Phone:  217.265.7433 SafeWalks Phone:  217.333.1216

• Facilities & Services
• 1501 South Oak Street,
• Champaign, IL 61820
• Phone: 217-333-0340
• Email:  [email protected]

Tips for Traveling Around Campus

Now that the weather is cooling off, walking everywhere is not going to be ideal. The good news is that students can ride on the Champaign-Urbana MTD for free! Here are some tips to make your ride as smooth as possible. 

Download the UIUC Bus App

While there are several apps that will show you the bus schedules, I find this one to work the best. In this app, you can look at the stops the CUMTD serves and see live tracking of where the buses are! This app will keep you from missing the bus with its live countdown until the bus arrives and list of stops near your current location. 

Use the MTD Trip Planner

If maps aren’t your strong suit, use the MTD Trip Planner website. By plugging in where you want to depart from and where you want to arrive to, the website will tell you which stops to get on and off at as well as the walking time. You can use this for trips in the future! Under the “when” section, you can choose the day and time you want the trip to take place. This is an amazing tool to have if you don’t have the routes of the buses memorized (much like myself). 

It might take a little getting used to, but you’ll become a pro in no time! The CUMTD is an amazing resource available to students, so make sure to take advantage of it on the cold days approaching us.  

Class of 2024 I’m a social work major with a passion for people and the betterment of society. Listening to my friends share their experiences sparked my love for the University of Illinois, so I can’t wait to share my own with prospective and incoming students!

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Contact Information

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday – Friday (closed on all campus holidays)

Telephone: 217-333-0302 Email: [email protected] Fax: 217-244-4614

Opinions expressed in the blog do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided. We assume no liability for any reliance by any person on the blog.

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• Technology and Innovation

Illinois MTD updates trip planning and ride scheduling technology with Google and Via

• Jan 17, 2023

Illinois MTD has launched two major technologies:

• Update to trip planning tools by working with Google to integrate real-time vehicle data with travel planner (updates sent every 30-60 seconds). Google uses MTD’s shared vehicle positions and runs them through their algorithm to calculate departure estimates in Google Maps. Google has also started including MTD’s reroute alerts into their transit itineraries.
• Launch of new MTD Connect app, powered by Via, to schedule trips for SafeRides service. The old MTD connect app (powered by Routematch) no longer functions. SafeRides is to provide safe transportation to individuals who are generally traveling alone when no other means of safe transportation are available within the designated SafeRides boundaries.

Source: MTD

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C-U middle schoolers shift to public transit: MTD's trip planner eases transition

by David Pierce

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCCU) — With students heading back to school in Champaign and Urbana, some of them will be taking a different method.

Middle school students will transition from the local district's yellow school buses to riding Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District's (MTD) buses.

The organization said the transition makes some families nervous because their child will be venturing out in the real world.

That's why MTD is promoting its online trip planner to answer their questions.

Marketing Director Autumn Soliman said the switch is opening new doors to maturity.

They can learn time management skills, get to the bus stop and they can learn how to navigate a map," Soliman explained.

Soliman added that MTD's trip planner aims to perfect this new responsibility.

"They can plan a trip for their student and they can teach how to learn how to ride the bus with all of our 'learn to ride' tools," Soliman said.

MTD services Edison Middle School, Franklin Middle School, and Jefferson Middle School in Champaign's Unit 4 district, and Urbana Middle School in District 116.

Families can go online, click on the school their child is going to this fall, then enter their address or click the neighborhood they live in. From there, the planner will show a map telling them where and when the bus comes in the morning and afternoon.

Soliman said some staff will monitor bus arrivals on MTD's center, while others will be on campus to help students get home.

"Supervisors go out to every single school dismissal everyday to make sure students get on the bus they need to get on," Soliman shared.

MTD also encourages families to check with their school district to determine if they are eligible to get a bus pass based on where they live.

For those that are not, they can request discounted rides.

MTD also said students making the switch to public transportation has saved both districts a total of $1.8 million each year with them not having to use as many buses once students reach middle school.

Hours & Locations

Main library, douglass branch library.

• Lobby Installations
• The Art Connection
• Peter Sis Murals
• Douglass Sculpture

Meeting Rooms

Accessibility, holiday closings.

Jan 1 – New Year’s Day Jan 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Mar 31 – Easter May 27 – Memorial Day July 4 – Independence Day Sep 2 – Labor Day Nov 28 – Thanksgiving Day Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Dec 25 – Christmas Day

200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 Mon–Thu 9-9 | Fri–Sat 9-6 | Sun 12-6 217/403-2000

FriendShop Bookstore

Lower level, Main Library Wed–Sun 1–4

The Studio at the Library

Lower level, Main Library Sat  9–6 | Sun 12–6

Directions to the Main Library

504 E. Grove St., Champaign, IL 61820 Mon–Thu 10-8 | Fri 10-6 | Sat 10-4 217/403-2090

Directions to the Douglass Branch Library

To reach the Douglass Branch by bus, take the 7 Grey during the day or the 70 Grey in the evening or on weekends.

For the bus schedule to either location, check with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District  staff or try the online MTD Trip Planner to map your own route.

Santa Barbara MTD

Enhancing the Mobility of the South Coast

Plan Your Trip

Plan your trip.

Trip planner box

• Routes list

SERVICE ALERT: On Monday, February 19th, 2024, in observance of Presidents’ Day, MTD service will operate on a Saturday schedule.

ALERTA DE SERVICIO: El lunes 19 de febrero de 2024, en conmemoración del Día de los Presidentes, el servicio MTD operará en un horario de sábado.

PLAN YOUR TRIP Download Schedule Book

PAY YOUR FARE

ENJOY YOUR RIDE