Transportation in Springfield

Springfield's transport mix centers on the city-run bus network and the downtown streetcar loop, both cheap and easy to use with the same reloadable "ConnectCard" sold at the transit center and most grocery stores. Buses radiate out every 10, 15 minutes on weekdays, less often on weekends. The streetcar circles the historic core and entertainment district every 12 minutes until late evening. Rideshare apps and the regulated taxi fleet fill the gaps, but a taxi from the airport is a splurge compared with the bus-plus-streetcar combo that gets you downtown in about 35 minutes. First-timers should note that the airport bus (Route 5) runs only once an hour after 8 p.m.; miss it and you're looking at a cab or rideshare. Inside town, avoid the hop-on tour buses, they crawl and cost several times the streetcar fare. If you're staying near the university, the Green Line express bus is faster than any rideshare during rush hour; otherwise, stick to the streetcar for short hops and the buses for longer cross-town runs.