David Braun

Bloomington's mayor has a concern about Connect Transit taking on rural transportation in McLean County after the county ended its agreement with Show Bus, saying he doesn't want the new initiative to detract from existing services.

McLean County is dropping Show Bus for rural public transportation and directing its grant funding to the service that operates public busing in Bloomington-Normal.

Alan Beaman and the Town of Normal have agreed to a $5.4 million settlement regarding his imprisonment from 1995 to 2008.

The situation has put a strain on Connect Transit, forcing the agency to rely on a fleet of 21-year-old buses and raising questions about additional zero-emission buses it’s expecting to receive.

Connect Transit may change how much it charges for rides on the Bloomington-Normal bus system and modernize its fare boxes. A proposal will go board members at their February meeting. If approved, the draft package would be put out for the public to offer input before any formal adoption.

Connect Transit will get a $13 million federal grant that will pay for five new electric buses, electric vans for a new on-demand micro-transit service, and a new training and storage facility.

Connect Transit is set to bring in a new general manager at a key time in the Bloomington-Normal transit agency's history.