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Public transportation expands along Illinois 13

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE SOUTHERN

Monday, July 28, 2008 10:36 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - An ongoing project to tie rural communities together - especially for higher education needs - took a big step Monday with the unveiling of a new Illinois 13 route provided through Rides Mass Transit District of Harrisburg.

Representatives with the federally funded public transportation system joined with Illinois Department of Transportation officials and administrators from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southeastern Illinois College and John A. Logan College to announce the expansion during a news conference in the SIUC Student Center.

"Certainly these are challenging times with the high cost of gas and unemployment," said chief executive officer Bill Jung of RMTD about the new transportation option that is offered seven days a week and stretches from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg to the SIUC Student Center.

Stops along the way include Heartland Regional Medical Center, John A. Logan College, Williamson County Regional Airport, Carbondale's Amtrak station, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and University Mall.

Additional stops can be made when riders schedule them to accommodate their needs, said RMTD spokeswoman Carletta Prather.

The service is available for anyone. The 22-passenger buses, fully accessible to meet the needs of people with disabilities, will run four times daily. Costs range up to $6 from Harrisburg to Carbondale with discount ticket books and monthly passes available. Seniors and children qualify for reduced rates. Special funding is available also that allows limited free rides to qualified applicants to assist in their job searching.

Higher education administrators said they were thrilled with the new expansion that will help link students traveling between the community colleges and SIUC.

"Could there be a better time to expand public transportation in our district?" asked Larry Dietz, SIUC's vice chancellor for student affairs, who praised Jung and his staff for their efforts.

The new route is part of ongoing rural transportation pilot projects funded by grant money administered through IDOT with the SIU' president's office, the SIU School of Medicine and Paul Simon Public Policy Institute working as partners to develop the routes, said Tess Ford of SIUC's Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development.

President Robert Mees of John A. Logan College said he was "extremely pleased" with the unveiling of the new route.

"This is just perfect timing. We've had a lot of requests for transportation assistance from places east of us including Crab Orchard and Marion. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved," Mees said.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076

The toll free number to call for Rides Mass Transit District is (877) 667-6119.