Bloomington approves Hershey Road speed limit

Bloomington City Council
The council unanimously approved reducing the speed limit on Hershey Road. (Photo by Patrick Baron/WJBC)

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council voted unanimously on Monday to reduce the speed limit on Hershey Road between Fort Jesse and Rainbow Drive.

Alderman Joni Painter expressed how the residents in her ward were concerned with the current speed limit and that they wanted to see it decrease so that public safety would increase.

“We’re supposed to have government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said Painter. “So I think that I need to take what they want into consideration.”

During the discussion, the word “consistency” arose frequently. City Manager David Hales explained that “consistency” means Bloomington and Normal working together to benefit both towns.

“Hershey is one of those prime roads to consider because it runs north and south in both cities,” said Hales. “So we felt that this was a good starting point as we look to gain that higher level of consistency.”

The motion to widen Linden Street from Locust to Empire was tabled for a later date, but the council agreed that it would be decided upon no later than Feb. 13.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…