Connect Transit

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.

The Connect Transit board on Tuesday approved changes to the Pink route that officials say will soften the blow when the Olive route is eliminated next week.

UPDATED 7 a.m. | The Bloomington City Council doesn’t like Connect Transit’s planned fare increases, Olive route elimination, and board makeup. But it won’t reject the transit system’s budget as a way to force change.

After surveying Connect Transit riders, the McLean County Regional Planning Commission is recommending the agency focus on catering to those who rely on the service.

The Normal Town Council unanimously approved new rules for public comment Monday night, but not without resistance from its newest members.

Bloomington City Council members voted Tuesday to postpone any board and commission appointments until after they can have a public discussion about how those appointments are made.

Downtown Bloomington is one step closer to a new transit transfer center.

Citizens to Ensure Fair Transit asked Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner to appoint a Connect Mobility rider and a fixed route-reliant rider to the Connect Transit board.

Following a public work session Saturday morning, Connect Transit's board has a better idea of what its new Connect to the Future working group should look like and what issues it should tackle.

Members of the Connect Transit Board of Trustees got another earful from the public Tuesday over their recent fare increases and route cut, as the panel named a new group that will seeks ways to better serve its ridership.

After opponents of recent changes at Connect Transit rallied below Uptown Station Monday night, Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer and Normal Mayor Chris Koos said their call and response has fallen silent.

Normal mayor Chris Koos has written a letter to Normal Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer accusing her of using "biased misleading rhetoric,"  and tearing down community partners as the latest step in an ongoing dispute over public transportation funding.

A critic of Connect Transit's recently approved fare hikes and route changes claims the transportation agency deliberately ignored public feedback by not sharing it with the agency’s voting board.

The mayors of Bloomington and Normal said Friday they have no plans to recall Connect Transit board members after Normal Township's supervisor accused the agency of withholding public comments which were critical of fare hikes and route changes before the board’s vote on Tuesday.

Connect Transit has approved higher fares to help pay for the transportation service, but will delay implementing them for three months to seek additional funding.

Economic developers in McLean County have created a wish list of four projects to seek federal funding.

As the federal government shutdown continues, Connect Transit is dipping into its reserves to continue operations.

UPDATED 3 p.m. | Central Illinois transit and social service agencies say they hope the state will pull back from burdensome new requirements that some fear will prevent low-income and disabled patients from reaching their medical appointments.

Children’s Home and Aid along with Connect Transit and various community organizations kick off the 16th annual Stuff The Bus event next week.

The federal government’s top mass transit official stopped in Bloomington on Friday to tout $12 million in grants won by Connect Transit and other Illinois agencies which she says will help chip away at the country’s aging fleet of buses.

Bloomington Normal's bus system could have a downtown Bloomington transfer center in about five years.