CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District recently announced changes aimed at improving riders’ experiences, including a new bus route, efforts to improve on-time performance and progress on terminal renovations.
In August, MTD launched the Cherry 17 to replace the 5 Green Express. The new bus route is meant to make it easier for riders to reach the Carle Health building on Curtis Road in southwest Champaign.
According to Karl Gnadt, MTD’s managing director, the change came after community feedback and confusion about the 5 Green Express.
“Feedback has been great,” Gnadt said. “People really appreciate that the facility is finally being served.”
MTD is also working to improve its timing on the 1 South Yellow route. In the first six months of the year, almost one in five buses on the route were more than five minutes late to the Illinois Terminal.
To fix this, the buses now spend less time waiting at the Champaign Walmart. Instead, they have a 5-minute-longer layover at the Illinois Terminal.
Omarion Allen, a Champaign resident who uses the 1 South Yellow for his commute, said he hasn’t noticed any changes.
“I take it every day for work,” Allen said. “As far as showing up on time, it shows up like 15, 20 minutes late. I just would prefer it if it would be on time like it said it would.”
Allen said the bus has arrived on schedule a few times since the August change, but when it doesn’t, it disrupts his plans. He normally has to wait longer than the bus’s initial time after getting off work, meaning he gets home later than expected.
“We only have so much control over the ability to be on time,” Gnadt said. “Within the boundaries and parameters of what we have to work with, we’re always trying to improve that on-time performance.”
An update on Illinois Terminal renovations
The C-U Mass Transit District also recently approved a contractor to design the expansion of the Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. But it will still be a few years before riders see changes.
At its latest board meeting in August, MTD approved a $5.76 million architecture and engineering contract with Stantec Inc. for the project.
While the project has seen different iterations since first proposed — including a possible development with an ice arena and downtown hotel — its most recent version is simpler: rehabilitation and expansion, with more parking and more bus platforms.
Gnadt said the project has experienced numerous delays over the years.
“I literally work on that project every workday and many weekends of my life,” Gnadt said. “I very much want to get that off the ground.”
Gnadt predicts it will take the firm 12 to 18 months to complete its design work, and construction could begin in the fall of 2028.
A possible terminal for Urbana?
MTD is also in talks with the City of Urbana to develop a smaller version of the Illinois Terminal in its own downtown, according to Gnadt.
The terminal could be housed in the old Urbana Civic Center building
“Downtown Urbana has long needed some love and attention,” Gnadt said.
Currently, people may need to cross the street when switching buses, which Gnadt said MTD hopes to change. The proposed terminal would also feature amenities like bathrooms and waiting areas.
If the project happens, Gnadt said Urbana School District 116 administrators would move their offices to the building.
Another possible expansion would be to MTD’s bus station in Urbana. The project proposal is in the early design phase.
According to Gnadt, MTD has reached the maximum capacity of its hydrogen fuel production station, and expansion would let MTD grow its hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet.