Connect Transit asking for public input on new downtown Bloomington transfer center

Posted on February 3, 2021
Connect Transit Marketing and Business Deployment manager Jeff Holtke said the online survey would take around five minutes to complete. (Photo courtesy: Connect Transit/Twitter)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – After the Connect Transit board selected three final site candidates for a new Connect Transit transfer center in downtown Bloomington, the board is asking for community input through a public survey on the potential sites.

The survey, which features the former Pantagraph building, the former C2 East Bar and Lounge, and the Market Street Parking Deck, features each site’s location and conceptual designs.

“I think the Connect Transit board, along with our Chairman Ryan Whitehouse, are excited to hear feedback from the community as far as likes, the dislikes, some of the amenities some of the riders would like to see when we do move forward on the potential downtown transfer center. It’s something that we’ve really needed for a long-time,” Jeff Holtke, Connect Transit Marketing and Business Manager said.

Connect Transit estimates the project’s cost to be around $18 million. However, the project is already paid for from state and federal sources, including a $7 million grant from the Rebuild Illinois capital program.

“We’re just excited to get to this point and get to the next few steps,” added Holtke.

Connect Transit board chair Ryan Whitehouse said the board would choose a final site at its meeting on February 23 with hopes of beginning construction in the spring.

A link to the online survey can be found here: https://www.connect-transit.com/about/downtown_transfer_center_site_survey.asp

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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