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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:

SJ Morrison
Madison County Transit
(618) 874-7433

MCT BEGINS WORK ON MULTI-MODAL FACILITY IN EDWARDSVILLE
Bike and Pedestrian Tunnel under Troy Road will also be Constructed

GRANITE CITY, ILL., OCTOBER 21, 2009 . . . Madison County Transit (MCT) has begun work on a $4 million multi-modal Trail & Transit facility in Edwardsville that will improve access to the MCT bus system and provide greater connectivity for the 100 miles of scenic MCT Trails. The new facility, located on Buchanan/Troy Road in the historic Leclaire neighborhood of Edwardsville, will not only be a park and ride location for the MCT bus system; it will also serve as a trailhead on the 13-mile MCT Nickel Plate Trail. The new facility is expected to open in late 2010 or early 2011, and two-way traffic will be maintained on Buchanan during construction. The MCT Nickel Plate Trail and the parking lot for the trail are closed in this area until the project is complete. Keller Construction of Glen Carbon is the contractor. The project has a number of components:

  • Park and ride lots will be constructed on the east and west side of Buchanan/Troy Road and will accommodate as many as 118 vehicles. When not encumbered by MCT passengers or trailgoers, the lots will be available for use by visitors to the Leclaire Ballfield and the Nelson Campus of Lewis & Clark College.

  • A lighted bike/pedestrian tunnel under Buchanan will provide a safe and seamless link for MCT Trail users of all ages and a secure way to access the north and southbound buses without crossing traffic.

  • Bus pull-off areas will be constructed on both sides of Buchanan preventing buses from blocking traffic on this busy corridor when passengers are boarding and alighting.

  • Permanent bus shelters that complement the neighborhood will be constructed on both sides of the road.

The new MCT Trail and Transit facility promotes sustainable living by creating effortless access to both the MCT Bus and Bikeway system. The facility is located immediately adjacent to destinations such as the N.O. Nelson Campus of Lewis & Clark College, the Historic Leclaire Ballfield, the Edwardsville Children’s Museum and the Benjamin Stephenson House. MCT is one of the only transit systems in the country that has a fully integrated bus and bikeway system, in which bus stops are located at trailheads and buses are equipped with bike racks for seamless multi-modal travel. For details, visit www.mct.org or call 618-931-7433, Option #3.

Madison County Transit (MCT) makes great communities better by providing multi-modal transportation services that improve the quality of life for Madison County residents. MCT operates a fixed-route bus service locally and regionally connecting to MetroLink; express weekday commuter service directly to and from downtown St. Louis; and seasonal express service to the Rams games and the Muny. For elderly and disabled residents who are unable to use the fixed-route buses, MCT provides Paratransit bus service. MCT is also responsible for the construction and maintenance of more than 100 miles of scenic Madison County bikeways known as the MCT Trails, as well as overseeing RideFinders, the St. Louis region’s FREE carpooling and vanpooling program. For more information on MCT services, routes and schedules, call (618) 931-7433, Option 3, or visit www.mct.org.