Show Bus

SHOW Bus
Founded1979
Service areaKankakee, Logan, and Mason Counties in Illinois
Service typeBus service and demand-response service
Routes1
Chief executive
Laura Dick
WebsiteSHOW Bus

SHOW Bus is a provider of public transit in rural Kankakee County, Logan County, and Mason County in Illinois. Most service is demand-response. There is one deviated fixed-route in Kankakee County.

Since July 1, 2025, SHOW Bus is no longer the public transportation provider for DeWitt, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, and McLean Counties in Illinois.

History

Public transit has existed in rural Central Illinois since at least 1891, when the Lincoln Electric Street Railway Co. began operating streetcar service in Lincoln. Streetcar service was operated locally in Lincoln and Pontiac until 1929 and 1925, respectively, when both cities had their streetcar systems replaced with buses. In 2020 and 2022, SHOW Bus and Kankakee County received two grants as part of Rebuild Illinois to replace vehicles and upgrade a vehicle storage facility.

In June 2024, the McLean County Board voted to withdraw from its multi-county intergovernmental agreement with SHOW Bus to provide rural public transportation, which also included Livingston and Ford counties. In February 2025, Macon County ended its intergovernmental agreement with SHOW Bus. In September 2025, Livingston County voted to terminate its contract with SHOW Bus.

Since July 1, 2025, the service area of SHOW Bus has decreased significantly. Service in the following counties once provided by SHOW Bus were replaced by the following providers:

Service

SHOW Bus provides one deviated fixed-route between Kankakee and Momence and demand-response services for the rest of its service area. All routes run weekdays only and have a regular fare of $2.

Past Service

Until 2025, SHOW Bus provided the following services:

Former Intercity routes

Former local routes

  • Lincoln Limited Stop Service
  • Pontiac Limited Stop Service
  • Watseka Limited Stop Service

Previous Transfer points

  • Chenoa: Chenoa Family Restaurant
  • Pontiac: City Hall
  • Pontiac: Livingston County Health Department
  • Pontiac: Walmart

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SHOW BUS Public Transportation". www.showbusonline.org. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  2. ↑ "SHOW BUS Public Transportation". www.showbusonline.org. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  3. ↑ "Transit Systems in Illinois:Medium Size Cities". Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ Chris Breach (December 3, 2020). "County receives state grant for Show Bus". Daily Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  5. ↑ "$1.06 million grant to expand Show Bus reach". Daily Journal. February 14, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ Ellin, Melissa (2024-06-11). "McLean County Board to vote on placing referendum to eliminate auditor's office on November ballot". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  7. ↑ "Public Notice - Livingston County Termination of ShowBus Service Contract". www.livingstoncountyil.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  8. ↑ "City Council approves expanding public transportation throughout Macon County". Decatur Tribune. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  9. ↑ "SHOW BUS Public Transportation". www.showbusonline.org. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  10. ↑ "Public Notice - Livingston County Termination of ShowBus Service Contract". www.livingstoncountyil.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  11. ↑ Schlenker, Charlie (2024-12-17). "Effects of McLean County decision to drop Show Bus cascade to other counties". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  12. ↑ will@fordcountychronicle.com (2026-02-20). "Futures Connections brings public transit back to Ford County | Ford County Chronicle". Ford County Chronicle | Recognized As The Best Medium-Sized, Nondaily Newspaper In Illinois. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  13. ↑ "Riders Services". Retrieved August 31, 2023.