MARION – Public transit riders in Marion will be able to access the new Marion Crosstown fixed route starting Monday, Aug. 12. The route will make stops at the RMTD Park-and-Ride, Heritage Apartments at Enterprise Way, along with the Lighthouse Shelter, Kroger, Walmart, Civic Circle Boulevard near Man-Tra-Con, Aisin, Meadowland Parkway, and Heartland Regional Medical Center. The route will offer hourly access at each stop, beginning at 6:15 a.m., Monday through Friday and at 8:15 a.m. on Saturdays. Marion Crosstown will end at 8 p.m. on weekdays and will conclude at 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

RMTD is also updating its Marion-Carbondale intercity fixed route service with changes beginning the same day. Weekday service will run from 5:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offer hourly access at each stop. New stops will include Veterans Airport, Ten Oaks Apartments, and near the Carterville McDonalds. Saturday fixed route service between Marion and Carbondale will operate every two hours from 6:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. These fixed routes can also be tracked in real time by downloading the RidesMTD app on your smart device.

RMTD’s night safety microtransit service will end its operation at the close of business on Saturday, Aug. 10, which is the same day RMTD concludes its service as the Saluki Express fixed route provider in Carbondale.

Marion’s Wildcat fixed route service will continue to operate six days per week.

RMTD is the largest rural public transit provider in Illinois and transports more than 600,000 people annually across its 17 counties.