Downtown Bloomington is one step closer to a new transit transfer center.
The Illinois Department of Transportation gave Connect Transit approval to move forward with a feasibility study and preliminary design work.
Connect Transit General Manager Isaac Thorne said IDOT grant funding helped secure the project after 17 years in the making.
“We’re looking at building a $12 million to $14 million transfer center, so the funding component is a very large component of getting it done," Thorne said.
Thorne said there are three possible downtown sites, but consultants may find more in the coming weeks.
“We have been able to secure some funding to be able to build it, and also having the grant funding from IDOT to do the study also helps tremendously because we don’t have a site location.”
Thorne said the current transfer center serves nearly 2,000 riders a day, second only to Uptown Normal. It is located in front of the county courthouse on Front Street where it lacks restrooms and shelter for its patrons.
Having only a stretch of the street, Thorne said only six buses can fit at the current location at one time.
“With the new transfer center we’re hoping to have all eight buses at the transfer center all at once, making transfers very, very convenient for customers.”
Thorne said he hopes a new facility will create a safer environment while improving access to the transit system.
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