Transportation

The Illinois Secretary of State's office says a plan to issue driver's licenses and state identification cards in Illinois that are more secure won't require additional state funding. 

Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that the state's pedestrian fatalities increased by 18 percent in 2015.  

There were 150 pedestrian deaths in 2015, compared with 127 in 2014.  Federal data indicates that pedestrian deaths are on the rise nationwide, with almost 4,900 killed in 2014, the highest number since 2005.

Mitsubishi Motors North America has sold its plant in Normal to an industrial reclamation firm.

Maynards Industries is a Detroit-based company that will take possession of the plant in June.

Mitsubishi says it does not know Maynards' plans for the site and equipment, but are aware they are in discussions with various parties.

The Illinois House has passed a measure to suspend fines for drivers who are late renewing their vehicle license plates until the state can continue mailing reminders.

The Bloomington City Council has adopted a $207 million dollar proposed balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2017. Aldermen Kevin Lower and Jim Fruin voted no. Lower said his opposition came because of a lack of reductions in “socialized entertainment venues.” Lower said he believed the venues should be paid for by the people actually using those services, not the city.

A $207 million balanced budget for the next year is under consideration by the Bloomington City Council tonight. The proposal includes additional revenue from a sales tax passed last year and includes more spending for the city’s infrastructure.

Beginning in June, Connect Transit riders will use new electronic fare boxes when boarding a bus.

Customers will be able to pay for rides with a magnetic strip card. Riders can also continue to use Connect Transit issued passes or cash. Bus tokens will be phased out beginning in May and no longer accepted after June 3rd.

Monthly 'Fast Passes' already purchased will work until June and any remaining credit can be transferred to a new mag-strip card after June.

Connect Transit will present proposed bus system changes in the Twin Cities to the Normal Town Council tonight. Council members will not be asked to approve the changes brought forward by the analysis at the meeting. The Transit Board will look more closely at the proposal at their meeting next month, with the final changes slated to begin in August. 

Baggage at the Peoria's airport originally thought to contain a bomb turned out to be a training device used at Planned Parenthood clinics. 

A bicycle lawyer is addressing the Bike BloNo meeting March 16th. Brendan Kevenides is partner in a Chicago firm that specializes in the legal needs of cyclists.

American Airlines new flight from and to Dallas - Ft. Worth has begun service from Bloomington.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport says the non-stop flight joined two other flights on American to north Texas. It also links to a hub with more than 200 destinations in 26 countries.

The light will have a regular daily schedule arriving in Bloomington at 12:09 p.m. and then departing from Bloomington at 1:05 p.m. and arriving in Dallas at 3:24 p.m.
 

Motorists in Decatur will pay more at the pump after the City Council approved a new gas tax to help fund road improvements. The council voted Tuesday to impose the local tax beginning April 1. The tax is 5 cents per gallon for unleaded gasoline and 1 cent per gallon for diesel. It will expire in 10 years unless the council votes to extend it. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe says the city ``got to fix our streets.'' She says she hopes the funds will help create jobs for local people who work in road construction and repair.

The Town of Normal is taking steps to build a temporary, level railroad crossing to allow Amtrak passengers to use a second platform, which will available when the state begins using high speed trains within the next year. The Town Council originally looked at building an overpass, or bridge, to allow passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists to cross the tracks as part of Constitution Trail, but that was put on hold when an underpass was proposed

Illinois State University says hover boards are too much of a fire risk. Eric Jome is the Director of ISU Media Relations. Hover boards are battery-operated, self-balancing scooters. Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Brent Paterson says that there have been a numerous cases of hover boards overheating and catching fire while charging.

The nation's Mayors are getting a look at the new transportation bill and what's in it for them. WGLT's Hanna Gutmann reports from the national meeting in Washington that Normal Mayor Chris Koos says the biggest problem is the new bill still has an old funding mechanism and priorities.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington is adding one flight a day between the Illinois twin cities to Dallas-Fort Worth Texas. The American Airlines flight will take off from CIRA begining March 3rd. The airport is coming off a rough year during which it experienced an eight percent decrease in passengers as Frontier Airlines discontinued Bloomington service to Denver and Orlando.

Starting this spring, Allegiant Airlines will fly twice a week from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to the Florida Panhandle beach city of Destin. The discount carrier announced the seasonal route at a news conference this week at the airport in southwestern Illinois. Service to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport will run from June 2 to Sept. 4 and cost as little as $39 one way. This will be the fifth MidAmerica route for Allegiant, the only airline operating at the airport. It currently connects MidAmerica with Las Vegas and two other points in Florida: Orlando and Tampa.

Bloomington's West Market Street at the Union Pacific railroad bridge is now open. Construction crews took down the barricades at 1pm yesterday afternoon. The street had been closed since late March to allow for the tear down and replacement of the bridge to accomodate high speed rail and increased freight traffic. The construction was originally scheduled to end in June, but a miriad of reasons, including rainy weather and bad soil, pushed the completion date back a number of times.