DMT will delay start of service Monday due to weather

Heavy snow and extreme cold will delay the start of public transportation services operated by Danville Mass Transit Monday morning. Canceled services include fixed route buses, paratransit service operated by CRIS, and the shuttle between Danville and Champaign-Urbana. These services are planned to begin at 10:15AM, however, additional delays and cancelations are possible.

Riders should keep in mind that the expected temperatures and wind chills will cause frostbite and hypothermia very quickly. Only essential travel is recommended. For your safety, riders should dress appropriately for extreme temperatures, and expect that buses will be running behind schedule due to road conditions. Expect also that the condition of sidewalks and bus stops will be very poor due to heavy snow and ice. Further, extreme cold temperatures may cause mechanical failures resulting in other problems with bus service.

Check the DMT website at www.ridedmt.org or the City of Danville web site at www.cityofdanville.org for updates. Information will also be posted to DMT’s Facebook Page (to follow, like “Danville Mass Transit”) and Twitter (@ridedmt). The office will be staffed Monday morning to assist riders by phone. For questions call (217) 431-0653 after 5:00AM Monday.

Snow Delays Start of Bus Service

The start of DMT bus service will be delayed by one hour this morning (Saturday, Dec. 14) due to heavy snow and poor road conditions. Below is a list of the first trip that will operate for each route:

1 Grant/Logan: 9:15AM

2 Gilbert: 8:45AM

3 Vermilion: 9:15AM

4 Bowman: 8:15AM

5 Fairchild: 8:45AM

6 Main/Fairchild: 8:15AM

7 Williams/Main: 8:45AM

8 Douglas Park: 8:45AM
10 Danville-Champaign: 10:20AM

11 Vermilion: 8:45AM

13 Tilton: 9:45AM

Update 7:41AM: The first route 10 trip to/from Champaign Urbana has been cancelled.

Christmas and New Year's Schedule

As you plan your holiday hustle and bustle, please keep in mind the following holiday service schedule for DMT buses.

Christmas Eve
On Tuesday, December 24, DMT will operate the Saturday bus schedule.

Christmas Day
No bus service, and the office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25.

New Year's Eve
DMT will operate the Saturday schedule on Tuesday, December 31.

New Year's Day
Buses will not operate and the office will be closed on Wednesday, January 1.

All of us at DMT wish our riders a happy holiday season.

Free Rides on Friday, Nov. 29

Danville Mass Transit (DMT) is inviting transit riders to “shop until they drop” by riding free on buses in the Danville area on Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving.

DMT Director John Metzinger said the city has traditionally offered free rides on the day after Thanksgiving to thank riders and encourage new customers to try using DMT buses.

Metzinger says this year’s focus for the event is on holiday shopping, in recognition of the significant number of new stores opening in Danville this year, including Burlington Coat Factory, Kohl’s, Ross, and Meijer.

“The city has worked very hard to bring new retail shopping to Danville,” said Metzinger. “Our free ride day is a way to promote holiday shopping and using mass transit, which is a great way to travel in and around our community.”

Rides will be free on all fixed route buses in Danville, Tilton, Westville, and Georgetown, however regular fare will apply to DMT’s service between Danville and Champaign-Urbana.

DMT will not operate on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. The regular weekday schedule will operate on the free ride day, Friday, November 29.

Downtown Events to Cause Detours

A lot is happening in Downtown Danville this weekend with the Taste of Downtown Danville, a 5k run, and the Viking Marching Band Invitational at Danville High School. Nearly every DMT bus will re-route around road closures associated with these events. The following detours will be in effect:

For Friday, September 27:

• 1 Grant/Logan buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, and Walnut to and from the Transfer Zone.
• 2 Gilbert/Danville Crossing buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, and Walnut to and from the Transfer Zone.
• 3 Vermilion outbound buses will follow Hazel, Madison, and Vermilion from the Transfer Zone.
• 6 Main/Fairchild outbound buses will follow North and Jackson to Main; the stop at County Market will not be served.
• 8 Douglas Park outbound will follow North, Jackson, and Main to Walnut street.
• 9 Georgetown buses will follow North, Jackson, and Main to and from the Transfer Zone.
• 10 Danville-Champaign buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, Walnut and North (west of Walnut) to and from the Transfer Zone.
• 11 Vermilion outbound buses will follow Hazel, Madison, and Franklin from the Transfer Zone.
• 12 Heights/South Danville buses will follow Hazel, Madison, Walnut and North outbound, and Main, Jackson and North inbound.
• 13 Tilton will follow North, Jackson, Main, Walnut and North to Gilbert when outbound, Gilbert, Main, Jackson, North when inbound.

For Saturday, September 28:

• 1 Grant/Logan buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, and Walnut to and from the Transfer Zone. 9:15 and 10:15AM trips will follow Main to Gilbert when outbound, and Gilbert to Main when inbound.
• 2 Gilbert/Danville Crossing buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, and Walnut to and from the Transfer Zone. The 9:45AM outbound bus will follow Main to Gilbert, and the 8:45 and 9:45AM inbound buses will follow Gilbert to Main.
• 3 Vermilion outbound buses will follow Hazel, Madison, and Vermilion from the Transfer Zone. The 9:15 and 10:15AM trips will travel around barricades at Vermilion and Seminary and Hazel and Vermilion with assistance from Taste volunteers.
• 4 Bowman trips at 9:15 and 10:15AM will travel around barricades at Hazel and Seminary with assistance from Taste volunteers.
• 5 Fairchild will follow Jackson to left on Williams, right on Hazel, right on Fairchild when outbound, and buses will travel around barricades at Hazel and Seminary with volunteer assistance on the 9:45AM trip.
• 6 Main/Fairchild outbound buses will follow North and Jackson to Main; the stop at County Market will not be served. The 9:15AM bus, when inbound, will travel around barricades at Hazel and Seminary with event volunteer assistance.
• 7 Williams/Main bus at 9:45AM will travel around barricades at Hazel and Seminary with volunteer assistance.
• 8 Douglas Park outbound will follow North, Jackson, and Main to Walnut street.
• 10 Danville-Champaign buses will follow North, Jackson, Main, Walnut and North (west of Walnut) to and from the Transfer Zone. At 10:20AM, the outbound bus will follow Jackson to Main and will not serve North street.
• 11 Vermilion outbound buses will follow Hazel, Madison, and Franklin from the Transfer Zone. The 8:45AM and 9:45AM buses will travel around barricades at Hazel and Seminary and Hazel and Vermilion when inbound.
• 13 Tilton will follow North, Jackson, Main, Walnut and North to Gilbert when outbound, Gilbert, Main, Jackson, North when inbound. The 9:45AM trip will follow Jackson to Main and will not serve North street.

DMT Routes Changing in Two Waves

Danville Mass Transit will be making service improvements in two waves, the first taking effect in October and the second in December. The changes are the result of a year-long planning process that considered riders' needs in a customer survey, evaluation of route performance, and a series of public meetings to discuss customer needs.

The first round of changes will begin on Tuesday, October 1. These changes involve streamlining four routes to improve on-time performance and efficiency, but will not increase operating hours for DMT buses. Routes 1 Grant/Logan, 3 Vermilion, 7 Williams/Main, and 8 Douglas Park will be modified. A summary of the changes is available at http://www.ridedmt.org/servicechanges_Oct2013.html.

The second round of changes will improve service to new retail developments along N. Vermilion, and will enhance connectivity between Danville's east and north sides. Frequency of service along N. Vermilion will improve from every 60 minutes to 30 minutes, and new bus stops will be added at Meijer, which is scheduled to open in November. Buses serving Bowman Ave. will travel directly to and from N. Vermilion. Routes 2 Gilbert, 4 Bowman, 11 Vermilion, 14 Lynch, and Evening Dial-a-Ride will change. These changes will begin on Monday, Dec. 2. A summary of changes planned for December is available here at http://www.ridedmt.org/servicechanges_Dec2013.html.

DMT to consider service changes in public meetings

Danville Mass Transit (DMT) has scheduled two public meetings to consider proposed changes to bus service. DMT plans to improve service to new retail developments on North Vermilion, streamline routes to help buses operate on time, and improve efficiency of transit service in Danville. The changes could go into effect in October.

Riders and the public are invited to review the proposed changes and make comments. A summary of the changes, route maps, and timetables are available on the agency’s web site at www.rideDMT.org (click the link under “Service Change Proposals”).

Meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 30, from 2:30 to 6:30PM in the center court of Village Mall on North Vermilion, and on Tuesday, August 6, from 2:30 to 4:30PM at the DMT Transfer Zone at North and Hazel streets in downtown Danville.