Transit

Regional Public Transit Providers

Fixed-Route Bus Services

Transpo

In South Bend and Mishawaka, Transpo operates seventeen fixed-routes on 30 minute and 60 minute headways. In addition to offering fixed-route service, Transpo also offers paratransit services, which covers a three-quarter of a mile corridor on either side of the transit routes. Transpo also provides four Mishawaka School Tripper routes during the school year, tailored towards providing students an opportunity to use public transit to get to school.

Interurban Trolley

The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) administers the Interurban Trolley, a six route bus service in Elkhart and Goshen. In addition to offering fixed-route service, the Interurban Trolley also offers paratransit services, which covers a one and a half mile corridor on either side of the transit routes.

Route 30 (Yellow Line) South Bend-Elkhart Connection

Transpo and the Interurban Trolley jointly operate Route 30 (previously known as the Yellow Line) between Mishawaka and Elkhart, every 30 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on Saturdays. In March 2025 this route will be extended into Downtown South Bend (via Downtown Mishawka) and provide a one-seat ride between the three largest cities in the MACOG region in under an hour.

Public Demand Response Services

A demand response service is a non-fixed route system that requires riders to schedule trips ahead of time. There are three services in the MACOG region: Kosciusko Area Bus Services (KABS), Marshall County Council on Aging, and Council on Aging of Elkhart County. Each of the services operates throughout their respective counties.

Rail Transit Services

South Shore Line

The South Shore Line, operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), is a commuter rail service providing access from South Bend to Downtown Chicago. The South Bend boarding site is located at the South Bend International Airport and links the South Shore Line with airline services and other public bus service. There are six daily round-trips on weekdays, and five on weekends. Service to Chicago become significantly faster in Summer 2024 after the South Shore Line completed its double track project between Michigan City and Gary, Indiana, with all trains completing the trip in just over two hours.

Amtrak

Amtrak provides rail passenger service throughout the United States. There are two passenger stations within the MACOG region, South Bend and Elkhart. Two routes run along this line: The Floridian and Lake Shore Limited. The Floridian runs daily from Chicago to Washington D.C. before continuing to Miami, Florida. Lake Shore Limited runs daily from Chicago to Boston and New York.

Additional Amtrak service is provided 6 miles north of the region at a station located in Niles, Michigan. Service runs three times per day from this station between Chicago and Pontiac via Detroit, and once per day between Chicago and Port Huron via East Lansing.

Find Alternative Transportation Options

Go574 is focused on creating simpler, enhanced, and sustainable transportation for the region.

Discover all your transportation choices in the Michiana region with Go574! Find carpooling, vanpooling, on-demand rides for appointments, and transit for any trip. Plus, track your travels (including biking and walking) to earn rewards – it's free and easy to join! Use our trip planner to explore and sign up for Go574 today.

Regional Mobility Plan

The Regional Mobility Plan, also known as the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan, provides a short-range plan for the implementation of public transit and social service transportation concepts in the region. It identifies the initial gaps, needs strategies and activities necessary to provide public transit in Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties.

The Regional Mobility Plan was approved by the MACOG policy board in August 2024.The Mobility Plan includes the following:

  • an inventory of current transit providers in the four-county area, including public, private, and non-profit providers;

  • an assessment of transit needs for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and persons with low income;

  • strategies, projects and/or activities to address identified gaps between current services and opportunities to improve service efficiency; and

  • a prioritization process for selecting projects to implement specific strategies or activities for potential funding.

Section 5310

MACOG is a designated recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding for the Section 5310 "Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities" grant program for the South Bend Urbanized Area. The Section 5310 grant program offers federal funding to support capital projects (securing vehicles) and operational funding support for programs that provide transportation to older individuals and those with disabilities.

For communities outside this urbanized area (including those in the Elkhart-Goshen Urbanized Area and rural areas) can apply to INDOT’s Statewide Call for Project.

Title VI Program

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating against or otherwise excluding individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any of their activities. The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and the South Bend Public Transportation Corporation (Transpo) are committed to complying with the requirements of Title VI in all of its federally funded programs and activities. MACOG is required to update and submit a Title VI Civil Rights Program to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) every three years.