By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council passed a resolution Monday night aimed at helping disabled Connect Transit riders burdened by a possible fare increase and service reduction.
However, two council members thought their colleagues should have taken a stronger stance.
The measure urges the newly-formed Connect to the Future working group to propose solutions other than raising fares on Connect Mobility riders, perhaps relying on funding from Twin-City governments.
“I’ve got a council that believes it’s a relatively low cost that we should add to the amount that we’ve contributed to hold the mobility fare increase,” said Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason.
Council members Jeff Crabill and Jenn Carrillo wanted a stronger stance against fare hikes, and to have Bloomington and Normal councils approve major transit system changes.
Carrillo said there’s too much trust being placed in the working group.
“There is something a little odd about the fact that they selected the group themselves,” said Carrillo.
“So, I’m not expecting necessarily that the group is going to come back with radically different findings than those of the boards. I think that’s a flaw in the how this process has been structured,” Carrillo also said.
The council’s action came on the day before the Connect Transit board is expected to vote on hiring a professional facilitator for the working group at a maximum cost of $53,425, requesting Bloomington and Normal councils help defray the cost.
The Connect Transit board on Tuesday is also set to vote on re-routing the Pink line to pick up riders at Orlando Avenue and Northbrook Estates in north Normal who can’t travel the half-mile to a bus stop when the Olive bus running at the end of the month. The transit system’s plan is to serve the area every half hour, instead of hourly with the Olive route.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
