Stuart Visits Madison County Transit, Urges Governor to Sign Downstate Transit Funding Bill

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart spent a morning touring the Madison County Transit (MCT) facility in Granite City to learn about the system and the benefits and services it provides to the constituents in the district.

“Access to affordable, reliable transportation is vital for many residents in our area,” Stuart said. “The Madison County Transit system allows local residents to travel to work, school and doctor’s appointments. I enjoyed speaking with the administrators as well as the drivers and dispatchers about MCT’s contributions to our community and regional economy.”

The MCT provides services for younger children to help them learn how to maneuver the bus system, a Guaranteed Ride Home program for emergency situations and passes for university students, among other programs.

Stuart recently passed House Bill 2453 to ensure state sales tax funds that are earmarked in state law for downstate transportation are used to fund local downstate transit districts, instead of being raided to fund other projects throughout the state and Chicago. Stuart’s legislation requires the earmarked downstate transit funds to be deposited directly into the Downstate Transportation Fund instead of the current lengthy bureaucratic process.

“State law requires a portion of the state sales tax that local residents pay go to help fund downstate transit districts like MCT,” Stuart added. “During the budget impasse, these funds were raided to pay for other projects and transit districts across the state were forced to shut down, reduce service or hike up fares. That’s not fair to Metro East residents who pay their fair share in taxes. My legislation ensures that those revenues go where they should – our downstate transit funds. I urge the governor to sign House Bill 2453 immediately and ensure that downstate transit is put on a level playing field.”