By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – Connect Transit held a public hearing Monday on its proposed new route structure.

It was the last opportunity for the public to chime in on the issue and many had concerns.

Richard Anderson said, under the proposed plan, he’d have to change buses three times to do what he does now in one switch.

“My house to the bus is one minute. Now I’m going to have to walk a block-and-a-half to two blocks to catch a bus,” said Anderson. “And then I’ll have to get off of that bus and get on another bus out in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know where it’s going.”

Bonnie Johnson said the listening sessions and lone public hearing regarding the routes have not been enough.

“Now, if something was happening that was going to drastically change your life, would you think that was enough? I’m sorry, that’s not enough,” said Johnson. “We will not be convinced that you really care about these things when you have one public hearing, which you have to have by law.”

However, Ryan Heeren had some praise for Connect Transit. The most recent update has buses continuing to operate on Bloomington’s west side, after previously proposing to limit service there.

“I wanted to speak in thanks to Connect Transit for listening to our concerns and working quickly to address those with this new gold route,” Heeren said.

Connect Transit General Manager Andrew Johnson noted they have received a lot of public feedback on the new routes and that has helped shape the final product.

The Connect Transit Board of Trustees plans to vote on the new routes Tuesday.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].