Shawnee MTD celebrates 25 years of service

1 hour ago

Shelby Brown,

VIENNA, Ill. (KBSI) – Shawnee Mass Transit is celebrating 25 years!

What started as a small service has now turned into a lifeline for community members who rely on these services every day.

Ron Gorst is the Operations Manager for Shawnee Mass Transit District, located in Vienna the company provides public transportation to 5 counties in southern Illinois, with emphasis on senior transportation. Connecting those unable to drive to vital appointments and more. Gorst shares they have day transportation programs for cancer patients and low-income families as well.

“Day service programs that we provide transportation to from our five southern counties to one location whether that be in Anna, karnak, metropolis and we also provide daily transportation for dialysis patients that are on a standing order in our world that they have to continually go on to get medical attention” says Gorst.

The 5 most southern counties of Southern Illinois are all rural areas making transportation barriers a common problem for those without access to transportation, Gorst shares they strive to make these counties more livable by providing transportation to necessary and vital services.