Transportation
Richland Community College students receive free access to the Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS) fixed-route city buses and Operation Uplift for students who are eligible for ADA paratransit service. (Note: Decatur Moves is a separate service and is not included in Richland’s free student transportation benefit.)
In Fall 2026, DPTS transitioned to the new Decatur Transit Pay system – which requires Richland students to have a Transit Pay account or physical fare card set up with Richland student status in order to ride for free.
How to Register for Free Rides
Students have two options to register for the new system:
Mobile App
Students can download the Decatur Transit Pay app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and create an account.
The app can also be used to explore routes, plan trips, view bus information in real time, and save frequently used locations.
Physical Fare Card
Students who do not have a smartphone or prefer not to use the app can receive a reusable physical fare card from the Decatur Customer Service Center (353 E William St, Decatur, IL).
Students who did not get their free student access established during the on-campus registration events should follow these steps:
- If you would like to use the mobile option, download the Decatur Transit Pay app and create an account.
- Take your current Richland student ID to the Decatur Transit Customer Service Center at 353 E. William St., Decatur.
- If you have already created an online/app account, Transit staff can locate the account and update it to reflect your Richland student status.
- If you do not have an account or prefer not to use a smartphone, Transit staff can provide you with a physical fare card instead.
Students do not need to purchase the regular fares or passes shown in the Transit Pay app once their free Richland student status has been established.
Free student access remains active for the entire academic year. Students who enroll later in the academic year can follow the same process by taking their current Richland student ID to the Transit Center.
Students who already have a physical transit card can continue using the same card. Their Richland student status will need to be renewed for each new academic year. DPTS plans to continue offering on-campus registration opportunities, and students who miss those opportunities can complete the process at the Transit Customer Service Center.
Using Transit Pay
When boarding a bus, students using the mobile app will open their Transit Pay information and scan the QR code on the validator aboard the bus. Students using a physical fare card will tap the card on the validator. Richland students should also be prepared to show their current Richland student ID when boarding.
Students who have already established their free student access but experience problems with their account can visit the Transit Customer Service Center or call 217-424-2800 and select option 2 or 3 for assistance.
All DPTS fixed-route buses are accessible and equipped with ramps to accommodate wheelchairs. However, students who are unable to independently use the fixed-route bus system because of a physical, cognitive, or visual disability may be eligible for DPTS’s ADA paratransit service, Operation Uplift.
Operation Uplift is a curb-to-curb, shared-ride service for eligible individuals and operates within Decatur, Forsyth, and Mt. Zion. Eligibility is determined by DPTS based on how an individual’s disability affects their ability to use fixed-route transportation.
Students interested in Operation Uplift can obtain a Paratransit Eligibility Application from the Transit Office at 353 E. William St. or contact DPTS at 217-424-2821 for information about eligibility, applications, and scheduling.
Once a student is eligible for Operation Uplift and has their Richland student transit status established, Operation Uplift is also free for the Richland student. If you are working with a student with a disability who indicates that using the regular fixed-route bus system may be difficult or impossible, please make them aware of Operation Uplift and direct them to DPTS for information regarding eligibility.
Contact Our Team
Sara Kennedy
Student Resource NavigatorStudent Success
Richland Main Campus, N119
(217) 875-7200, Ext. 6543