River Valley Metro Mass Transit District

History

Founded in 1998 and operational by 1999, the River Valley Metro mass transit district took over the Kankakee Area Transit System (KATS) and became a means of transportation in the region. The Metro has 12 total routes and 5 transfer centers which serve the communities of Bradley, Bourbonnais, Kankakee, Aroma Park and Manteno. The Metro has also received many awards including, Metro Magazine's "Fastest Growing Transit System" in North America for 2001 and "Success in Enhancing Ridership Award" from the Federal Transit Administration in 2008 and 2009. October 13, 2016 it was announced that river valley metro would be likely closed due to lack of funding by the state of Illinois.

Renovation and expansion plans

The River Valley Metro has been actively studying a number of proposals for expanding bus service, that include a commuter routes to Watseka and an express route along IL 50.

Bradley Transfer Centre

The Bradley Transfer Centre would replace the current transfer center, Saint Vincent's Transfer Center, that services the routes in western Bradley. The Bradley Transfer Centre will be located in Lions Park across the street from the Saint Vincent's Transfer Center and will use a $1.6 million grant received from the state of Illinois in 2010 for this project. Though initially estimated to be completed in Spring 2011, the project has been delayed due to issues with an underground water main in Lions Park. The project is now estimated to break ground in either 2013 or spring 2014.

Kankakee Transfer Center upgrade

A need for an upgrade of the current Kankakee Transfer Center, or Kankakee Metro CENTRE, has been noted since 2010. Preliminary work has begun with an estimated completion of Fall 2015.

Watseka Commuter Route

Watseka is currently only served by SHOW BUS Public Transportation, which currently has a once a day fixed route service from Watseka to Kankakee. The route would provide service from Watseka to the Kankakee Community College and would facilitate commuters from Iroquois County that work in Kankakee County. Service is tentatively projected to begin late 2013 or early 2014.

Second University Park Commuter Service

A second University Park route along I-57 is planned that would provide transit service from I-57 exit 308, south of Kankakee, to Metra Station with stops in Peotone and Monee. The current University Park Commuter route travels along IL 50. This route would supply public transportation to an under-served area in Pace's transportation district.

This route will begin service on January 1st, 2016.

IL 50 rapid transit

This will be an approximate 25-mile (41 km) long express bus route running along IL 50 between Kankakee and the University Park Metra Station. A BRT route may be a viable cost effective, alternative to extending the Metra electric line from University Park to Kankakee. 60-passenger articulated buses will possibly be used and service could start by 2015.

Other events

Other possible routes that could be implemented by 2018 are a downtown Kankakee circulator and a Pembroke Township route. metro will be closing November 18th due to lack of funding by the state of Illinois. Driver of the year Gary Hoffman and rookie driver of the year is Jeannette kirchner .

Routes

River Valley Metro operates 12 fixed-regular bus routes and 2 commuter routes. The Midway and University Park commuter routes were added January 5, 2014. August 2015 River Valley Metro added a second Midway route to its schedule. January 2016 adds a second University Park route to its schedule.

Local

Commuter

Transfer Centers

There are five transfer centers in the River Valley Metro bus system, which are:

Fares

* Reduced fares are applicable on bus for seniors and riders with disabilities.
** All inclusive passes include access to any bus in the system, including University Park and Metro PLUS (ADA).