Connect Transit

Bloomington-Normal's public bus system will get an additional $8 million for a planned downtown Bloomington transfer center.

More leadership changes are coming to Bloomington-Normal’s public transit agency.

In a meeting with the Bloomington City Council Monday night, Connect Transit board chair Ryan Whitehouse pledged the public transportation service will become completely ADA compliant by 2024.

Connect Transit General Manager Isaac Thorne says the service may need to use $9.1 million in federal assistance to offset a potential lack of state funding.

Thorne said Connect Transit has no assurance the Illinois Department of Transportation will be able to provide its normal 65% reimbursement of expenses after September. IDOT is the bus service’s largest funding source.

Connect Transit has extended its suspension of fare collection until Aug. 2. The extension includes fixed-route buses and the Connect Mobility paratransit service.

McLean County health officials announced one new COVID-19 case on Tuesday, while three more patients have recovered.

Bloomington-Normal's bus service will halt service early the next two days. Connect Transit said public and employee safety drove the decision to suspend service at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Bloomington-Normal's public bus system will cut fares for people with disabilities and raise them for everybody else.

The coronavirus story is developing quickly in Illinois. Here are updates from WGLT's newsroom and our partners at Illinois Public Radio, NPR, and The Associated Press.

UPDATED 11:15 a.m. | President Trump on Friday signed an historic $2 trillion economic recovery package into law.

Almost 11 months ago to the day, Heidi Zimmerman spoke before the Connect Transit board of trustees, making a “desperate plea” that the board not increase rates for Connect Mobility riders.

Bloomington-Normal's transit agency is updating progress toward achieving 100% ADA compliance through a new interactive map on its website.

The group tasked with generating a plan to address a funding gap that could render Connect Transit insolvent by 2026 has concluded its work.

UPDATED 11:25 a.m. | The community panel tasked with helping Connect Transit secure financial sustainability will recommend soliciting a half-million dollar funding increase over two years from Bloomington and Normal to help address the service’s structural deficit.

Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees has ratified a six-month extension of its agreement with Connect Transit to cover free bus access for students, faculty and staff.

Illinois State University and Connect Transit have come to terms on a six-month agreement that would maintain universal access for ISU students, faculty and staff.

Heartland Community College’s Board of Trustees will take up a six-month universal access contract with Connect Transit on Tuesday.

The Illinois attorney general’s office is investigating a complaint related to Connect Transit and whether it’s violating state accessibility laws.

The Connect Transit board is expected to delay a 25-cent fare increase that's scheduled for Jan. 1.

Several draft recommendations that emerged Saturday from the Connect to the Future working group mirrored suggestions in Connect Transit's Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) prepared by regional planners to address changing needs for the next three to five years.

As Normal begins to consider how it wants to approach the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana, Town Council members hope to get public input from the business and law enforcement communities.

Some Bloomington-Normal community members are criticizing Connect Transit for purchasing electric buses. The transportation agency at the time said by using state and federal grants, the buses will be paid for with “no local funding.”

The Connect Transit board Tuesday approved a contract to bring on four electric buses per year over the next three to four years.

The Connect Transit board voted 4-0 Tuesday to delay a 25-cent per ride fare hike until Jan. 1.

The fare increase was supposed to start this month, but was delayed to Oct. 1. In an interview with WGLT, General Manager Isaac Thorne said a third delay allows the 'Connect to the Future Working Group' time to review the plan and Connect’s finances.

Members of the Connect to the Future working group got acquainted with the group’s new facilitator Saturday morning at Uptown Station. It was their second meeting since Connect Transit board members announced the group’s creation in April to develop recommendations for the future of the agency’s service and funding.