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Thursday, June 16, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:

SJ Morrison
(618) 797-4600

MCT BUS PASSES NOW SOLD AT 14 WALGREENS STORES

New Pass Sales Outlet Created as MCT Ridership Increases

GRANITE CITY, ILL., JUNE 14, 2011 . . . Beginning tomorrow, Madison County Transit (MCT) fixed-route monthly bus passes will be available for purchase at all fourteen Walgreens stores in Madison County – doubling the number of locations where MCT passes are sold. Walgreens locations in Alton, Bethalto, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Highland, Maryville, Troy and Wood River have all signed on to sell the passes and all served by MCT bus routes. The addition of Walgreens as a pass sales outlet comes as MCT reports its best May ridership in agency history – more than 172,000 passengers – a 17% increase over May 2010.

“Adding Walgreens as a pass sales outlet significantly improves access to MCT passes throughout Madison County.” said MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane.

MCT sells two types of Monthly Passes: the MCT Local Monthly Pass and the MCT System Monthly Pass. The MCT Local Pass provides unlimited fixed-route trips in Madison County all month long for $40. The MCT System Pass provides unlimited fixed-route trips in Madison County, to MetroLink Stations and to Downtown St. Louis all month for $60. For a MCT Express passenger to St. Louis, the MCT System Pass pays for itself after 10 days. During the school year, MCT also sells a Student Monthly Pass for students in kindergarten through high school, for just $15. Thanks to the cost savings and the convenience (eliminating the need to carry an exact cash fare), more than one-third of MCT passengers ride with a bus pass. “MCT passes will be sold at the main check-out near the entrance to the stores,” said Walgreens Community Leader and Edwardsville Store Manager Sherri Flannery. “We’re excited about the opportunity to sell MCT passes and offer this service to the community.”

In addition to Walgreens, MCT passes can also be purchased online at www.mct.org, at Madison County Schnucks and Super Value locations, at the SIUE Information Center and at the Wood River Library. For details about MCT services, visit www.mct.org, e-mail info@mct.org or call (618) 931-7433, Option 3.

Madison County Transit (MCT) provides multi-modal transportation services for Madison County, Illinois. MCT operates a fixed-route bus service, 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 complementary door to door service. MCT is also responsible for the construction and maintenance of more than 100 miles of bikeways that comprise the MCT Trails system, as well as overseeing RideFinders, the St. Louis region’s FREE carpooling and vanpooling program.