RMTD Touts Improved Transfer Center

RMTD Touts Improved Transfer Center

By Jermaine Pigee, assistant managing editor

Rockford Mass Transit District’s downtown transfer center is getting a $7 million makeover.

Located at 501 W. State St., Rockford, the center is more than 30 years old and updates are a long time coming, says Lisa Brown, marketing and public relations specialist for RMTD.

“We have about 4,000 people on our buses every day and about half of them transfer downtown,” Brown says. “So, for 30 years, we’ve had 2,000 people a day going to that building and it’s taken a toll on it. The building went through a lot of wear and tear. It needed to be refreshed to give our passengers a much nicer waiting environment.”

Since 1971, RMTD has been providing affordable transportation to area residents. It offers fixed route and paratransit services in Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park and Belvidere. The 40 buses operate 18 routes Monday through Saturday with six night routes and six routes on Sunday.

The improvement project is divided into two phases. The first one was completed in February and included a complete overhaul of the inside of the transfer center at a cost of just over $4 million. The second phase is focused on the busing configuration outdoors.

Since the completion of the first phase, the transfer center has more space, is brighter and features updated amenities including better information system displays, charging stations for mobile devices, improved surveillance equipment and a large, oversized route board that provides real-time bus arrival information.

“Basically, we took the old building, used about 90 percent of the existing structure and extended that property, so we doubled the footprint of what was originally there and it gave us a new facility,” Brown says.

“Passengers will be able to see exactly when their bus will arrive in an easier format,” Brown says. “The board has all the routes and will notify passengers if their bus is on time or delayed.”

Updated surveillance equipment will improve safety for riders and staff members alike.

“It’ll be a safer environment because visibility is better and there are fewer blind spots in the building,” Brown says.

The transfer center is ADA compliant, with plenty of room for handicappedaccessible seating. Waiting area seating is expanded and there are new vending machines plus a new family restroom.

The second phase of the project will change how the buses enter and leave the building by introducing a sawtooth configuration.

“With the sawtooth design, the buses will come in and out in a straight line,” Brown says. “Before, the buses came to a cemented wall area and they had to back straight out. Backing up a 35-foot bus was something we did numerous times a day, but it wasn’t optimal because it wasn’t the safest and most efficient way to board passengers.”

Brown says the new design allows for speedier dispatch of vehicles and also more efficient passenger loading.

“We’ll now be able to use the middle doors on our buses and we couldn’t do that before,” Brown says.

The second phase of the project also addresses better outside lighting, better signage, additional security cameras and ADA-accessible boarding areas.

“Once this portion is done, the whole project will be complete,” Brown says.

If the weather cooperates, the second phase should be finished by late summer. It comes in at just under $3 million. Money for the entire project comes from a mix of state and federal funds.

Once everything is finished, the downtown transfer center will resemble the newer RMTD transfer center at 725 N. Lyford Road, on the east side of Rockford, built in 2012. Each facility will have its own identity but be tied to the other from a style standpoint.

“We’re using similar materials, but in a different color palette,” Brown says. “We also used natural materials like brushed aluminum. It was really important to us that both buildings looked the same so that people would still know they’re at an RMTD property, but we also wanted them to have their own identity.” ❚