Madison County Transit will launch a pilot program — similar to ride-sharing services Lyft and Uber — for $1 in most of Collinsville on Monday.
SJ Morrison, executive director of Madison County Transit, said the pandemic and the proliferation of ride-sharing apps have changed the way county residents get around the region.
“We are trying to meet the needs of future drivers who, for one reason or another, are not driving today,” Morrison said.
The main difference between commercial competitors and this program – called MCT Micro – is that this service will pick up other commuters along the way, like a bus would. However, there will be no set route like a bus.
Metro East Transit Service research over the past few years has shown that customers make most of their trips, about 75%, within a single community. For example, Collinsville residents stay in town for their grocery shopping or doctor’s appointments, Morrison said.
“We know that our future riders are more likely to want an on-demand service,” he said. “I think offering an on-demand service in this way will be very attractive to retain riders and attract new riders to MCT.”
MCT drivers pick up customers in smaller shuttle vehicles. They drive everyone in the majority from Collinsville, which is on the Madison County side of the city. The new service will operate in conjunction with existing bus and shuttle services.
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Madison County Transit
If successful, Morrison hopes to expand MCT Micro to other parts of the county and possibly phase out the existing shuttle service.
“It’s a pilot project – we don’t know what we don’t know yet,” he said. “We’ve seen some areas across the country where microtransit services have been successful and others where they’ve struggled to take off.”
Madison County Transit chose Collinsville because of its demographics and designated commercial corridor, said Derek Jackson, Collinsville’s city manager.
Collinsville officials believe this new service will not compete with an existing program for seniors and the disabled. This shuttle runs during the week and counts more than 11,000 trips annually, according to the city’s website.
“If there is congestion at one of these stops, hopefully it will create more space and speed up drop-off and pick-up by having additional options available,” Jackson said.
MCT Micro will operate two shuttles Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Sundays, the bus will operate with one vehicle from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Commuters can book rides through a Madison County Transit app or by calling 618-797-4636. The vehicles are handicap accessible, have video surveillance and can carry bicycles.
“If we can get a successful program up and running and help MCT get off to a successful start, we are optimistic and hopeful that this will help them roll out the program nationally – so that other communities can benefit as well,” Jackson said.
