About
SCT
South Central Transit
offers demand response public transportation service (24 Hour Notice)
in the Salem, Centralia, Nashville, Carlyle, Mt. Vernon, Breese, and Benton city limits.
The mission of South Central
Transit is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective public transportation
to the citizens of the communities we serve. We are committed to
enhancing economic development and quality of life through affordable,
accessible transportation services. Our South Central Transit team
pledges to provide courteous service to our customers and aggressively
meet the changing needs of the region.
We are located at 1616
East McCord in Centralia. Our building was formerly owned
by the Coca-Cola company, and you may recognize it as the "Coke
Building".
Take a look around these pages and learn more about
our organization.
Mission Statement
| Brief History
Mission Statement Back To Top
The Mission of South Central
Transit (SCT) is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective public
transportation to the citizens of the communities we serve. We are
committed to enhancing economic development and quality of life
through affordable, accessible transportation services. Our SCT
team pledges to provide courteous service to our customers and aggressively
meet the changing needs of our region.
Brief History| Back To Top
October
1989
South Central Transit
corporation was formed by a grant through Marion County and the
Illinois Department Transportation. The Section 18 grant was
awarded to Marion County and South Central Transit to provide
transportation services to the elderly and handicapped in Marion
County and the Brookside Township of Clinton County. Our service
has grown from a monthly average of 300 trips in 1989, to our present
monthly average of 20,000 trips in 2003.
July
1992
The Marion County Board
voted 15 to 0 to form a transit district. At this time, South
Central Transit Corporation ceased to operate and the South Central
Illinois Mass Transit District (also called South Central Transit or
SCT) was created. The Board of Directors of South Central
Transit Corporation and the Marion County Board made this transition
for the following reasons:
-
Creation of a
governmental entity as a transit district that is responsible for
the public transportation needs in the district.
-
Direct funding from
the Illinois Department of Transportation rather than through the
County Board.
-
As a governmental
entity, SCT is entitled to privileges such as reduced liability
insurance, no taxes on fuel or properties, and district funding.
-
Ability to establish
fixed routed within the district.
-
As a transit district,
SCT is eligible for grants and funding from Federal and State
Governments.
-
Ability to annex
additional counties into the district to provide service in those
counties and establish fixed intercity routes.
-
Ability to work
directly with legislators to receive more funding (Downstate
Transportation Act).
-
Ability to pursue
contracts with major industries, social service agencies,
businesses, etc.
-
Ability to be solely
in the transportation business.
The Board of Directors of
South Central Transit is committed to the aforementioned ideas and
goals with the top priority being provision of transportation to the
public with special attention to the elderly and handicapped and
establishment of fixed routes and contracts within our district.
May
1993
The Jefferson County Board
and the SCT Board of Directors voted to annex Jefferson County into
the transportation district.
July
1993
Jefferson County was
officially annexed and SCT assumed the existing Jefferson County
Transit.
October
1994
Clinton County was annexed
into SCT by resolution of the Clinton County Board and the SCT Board
of Directors. Plans for expansion of services and feeder routes
linking up with Bi-State Bus in Clinton County are in the works.
January
1997
SCT continues working
toward annexation of Washington and Bond Counties into the
transportation district.
The second stage of the
technical assistance study focused on the current transportation needs
of Clinton County in addition to the needs that will arise form
Metro-Link expansions and construction of Mid-America Airport located
in St. Clair County. This second stage addressed the following:
-
Establishment of a
fixed route system from Marion and Jefferson Counties to Clinton
County with reverse commute to the industrial communities of
Salem, Centralia, Mt. Vernon, and Nashville.
-
Establishment of Park
and Ride lots and locales within the districts boundaries
including Washington County.
-
Assessment of route
availability with the existing St. Clair County, Bi-State,
Metro-Link, and Madison County Routes.
August
1997
An Interagency Agreement
between SCT and Community Transportation Development (CTD) was entered
into to allow for the purchase of services between the two organizations
in order to provide an integrated system of transportation services
to mutual clients and the public-at-large.
January
1999
Washington County was
annexed into SCT by resolution of the SCT Board of Directors.
Services are limited to the city limits of Nashville, but plans for
expansion of services are in the near future.
Franklin County was also
annexed in January. Services include general public
transportation and agency contracts.
August
2003
Perry County was annexed. Services include general public transportation in Du Quoin and
agency contracts.
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