Transportation

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 Town of Normal is pulling back on a pilot project to allow E-scooters into the community. Talks with Illinois State University and a scooter company began in January, but town planner Mercy Davison said that is now on hold.

University communities around the country have been targeted by E-scooter companies who see an audience for the motorized vehicles. But Davison said that after looking into the ordinances of other communities in Illinois, the town found that scooters would not be a possibility anytime soon.

The Normal Town Council on Monday approved more than $792,000 in late summer road repairs.

City Engineer Brian Otto said the town had considered using concrete instead of asphalt on Cottage Avenue between Gregory Street and Barton Drive, but the money didn't work out.

Bloomington City Council members on Monday rejected two of Mayor Tari Renner’s appointments to the city’s transportation commission, amid claims the city should try harder to place applicants on the boards they requested to serve.

The Bloomington-Normal driving public might have to get used to a new name for a prominent road.

Unit 5 is trying to recruit more bus drivers for next school year by showing them that it’s not as intimidating as it looks.

Illinoisans can now get driver’s licenses and state ID cards that comply with Real ID, the strict federal security requirements that will soon be needed for air travel.

With paychecks for federal workers in Bloomington-Normal still lagging, the Central Illinois Regional Airport has opened a food pantry and support center.

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

The Normal Town Council has appointed a Commerce Bank vice president to the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority board.

The Bloomington City Council will consider a $4 million summer street resurfacing program at its meeting Monday evening.

Some of the worst road surfaces in Bloomington-Normal will get badly needed repairs this month, according to Bloomington's Public Works director.

State Farm Insurance is announcing an auto rate decrease for Illinois. The Bloomington-based company says the average decline for Illinois rate payers will be 2.9 percent.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is giving Bloomington-Normal's bus system $250,000.

The Trump administration's offer to address the DACA problem of childhood immigrants comes with too steep a price tag for many Democrats.

Connect Transit plans to hire its interim general manager as its next general manager.

Waiting at a bus stop in the near future could be easier with the addition of new bus shelters in Bloomington-Normal.

Connect Transit made progress at Tuesday’s meeting with the plan to build 10 new shelters this fall. Community engagement sessions highlighted the public desire for shelters, benches, and additional sidewalk at bus stops in the area.

Connect Transit chose locations based on the number of riders at each bus stop location.

A Connect Transit cut in services to some people with disabilities is getting some pushback.

Connect Transit recently eliminated tripper service to some edge-of-town housing. This had the effect of reducing the area the government mandates the system serve with Connect Mobility, a service for those with physical access challenges.

The City of Bloomington's Public Works director and members of the Historic Preservation Commission have reached a compromise on a draft revision of the city's Brick Streets Master Plan.

After a fierce battle over bicycle lanes for Washington Street, the final chapter in the process Monday was anticlimactic.

Opponents scarcely showed up, and the Bloomington City Council gave unanimous approval, 9-0.

Connect Transit expects up to a 7 percent increase in use of its Connect Mobility service next month. That's because the YWCA is shutting down its Medivan program.

The YWCA made that choice because state funding was unreliable and the program was on pace to operate at a $120,000 per year deficit.

The Bloomington Planning Commission supports bike lanes along Washington Street. Residents testified on both sides of the amendment to the Bloomington bike plan during a public hearing.