SCCTD VanGo to Replace the 17X Lebanon-Mascoutah MetroBus
St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) announced it is partnering with transit tech company Via to launch a new, on-demand transit service in Lebanon and Mascoutah that will debut on Monday, Oct. 19. The service, called SCCTD VanGo, allows weekday commuters to hail a safe and secure ride through the click of an app and quickly and efficiently gain access to any location within the designated service area via the SCCTD shuttle van service. All VanGo rides are free until Monday, Nov. 30, the same day the 17X Lebanon-Mascoutah MetroBus route ceases operation.
SCCTD VanGo service is available Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service zone extends throughout Lebanon and Mascoutah, providing access to Horner Recreation Park, McKendree University, the Summerfield Village Office, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station, Mascoutah Public Library and anywhere in between. All rides are free through Monday, Nov. 30. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 1, rides will cost $3 for the first passenger and $1.50 per each additional passenger over the age of two. All rides to and from the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station are only $1 per person.
To utilize the service, users need to first create an account by downloading the SCCTD VanGo app from the App Store or Google Play Store and follow the simple sign-up steps. From there, they can enter pickup and drop-off addresses, choose the ride option that works best and be picked up by a driver in minutes. Those without a smartphone can get set up by calling the SCCTD VanGo support number at 618-268-1842. This service matches passengers headed in the same direction, so rides may be shared, but the maximum number of passengers per vehicle will be limited to allow for safe in-vehicle social distancing.
“VanGo provides an affordable and convenient means for those traveling throughout Lebanon and Mascoutah to get where they need to go,” commented Herb Simmons, Chair of the St. Clair County Board of Trustees. “We believe this service will be a better fit for these smaller transit ridership markets, while helping to boost ridership on the overall transit system.”
To learn more about SCCTD VanGo, visit www.scctd.org/vango.