A Message from SCCTD Managing Director

As you know, public transportation goes far beyond simply getting people where they need to go. Per an economic impact study commissioned in conjunction with Citizens for Modern Transit, SCCTD contributes $129.5 million to the local economy each year in St. Clair County through its transit services and related activities. In partnership with Bi-State Development, Southwestern Illinois College and Alternative Transportation Services, we provide nearly 3.3 million transit trips on average each year via MetroBus, MetroLink, paratransit and micro-transit services. Transit riders are estimated to spend approximately $17.5 million annually in St. Clair County as a result of their transit-related activities.

Together, SCCTD and Metro Transit’s Illinois operations help power our region by supporting 450 local jobs. In recent years, capital investments in the transit system have averaged approximately $34.5 million per year, with most of that driven by the MetroLink expansion project that will extend the light rail system 5.2 miles from the existing Shiloh-Scott Transit Center in Shiloh to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah.

These and other key findings are helping riders, non-riders, elected officials and stakeholders better understand the highly quantifiable and positive impacts of transit.

As we proceed through a new year, the St. Clair County Transit District’s Board of Commissioners will be looking to Benesch – a planning, engineering and design firm dedicated to creating spaces, providing connections and improving infrastructure­­ – to guide our vision and help us fill service gaps. We will continue to work to expand our MetroBikeLink System of trails, ensure accessibility and invest in our local communities.

We hope you’ll subscribe to SCCTD’s quarterly email newsletter here to stay up-to-date on our ongoing work.

Thank you for coming along for the ride,

Ken Sharkey, Managing Director of SCCTD