Transportation

Two central Illinois congressmen headed to Washington, D.C. this weekend for a special session said it’s not the reason they think they should be going.

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.

UPDATED 11:50 a.m. | The Bloomington City Council voted Monday night to approve the reappointment of a Connect Transit board member, though not without discussion, with alderman Jeff Crabill moving to exclude the selection of Ryan Whitehouse.

Town staff is asking the Normal Town Council to approve a speedy application for the state's Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure grant money to improve a deteriorating West College Avenue near the Rivian auto plant.

A special council meeting to consider the proposal is set for Monday evening.

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

The Unit 5 school board is sticking with its sometimes-frustrating bus service for one more year. The board Wednesday approved retaining First Student in a short contract.

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.

The Normal Town Council took the first step toward a new budget Monday night with the approval of a six-year Community Investment Plan.

Representatives from First Student made their pitch to Unit 5 officials Wednesday as the school board continues to mull over transportation options for next school year.

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.

The Town of Normal’s original grant application for the Uptown underpass included a long list of benefits—including enhanced safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and even children’s museum visitors—and also a willingness to put millions in local funding toward the project.

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.