By Howard Packowitz

Leaders of Bloomington-Normal’s transit system said Tuesday evening they’re prepared to defend their budget to Normal’s Town Council in two weeks, but the transit board’s chairman indicated it’s unlikely a bus route running through north Normal will be saved.

Connect Transit Board Chairman Mike McCurdy and General Manager Issac Thorne said they’ll present their case to town council members at the June 17 council meeting.

Council member Karyn Smith wants the council to reject Connect Transit’s annual budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, unless transit trustees delay eliminating the Olive route.

McCurdy said that decision was based on year-round ridership data, not just during cold weather months.

“It’s interesting to me that in a community where we have people that are so conscious about being fiscally responsible that we’re hearing this feedback from the same community to say, ‘Oh no, keep a poor performing bus line on the route.’ As a trustee, we need to look at the overall financial health of this system,” said McCurdy.

At Tuesday evening’s transit board meeting, trustees approved 11 members to serve on the “Connect to the Future” working group, a panel created during the contentious debate over fare increases and the service cut.

“They are service providers, they are critical thinkers, they come from the City of Bloomington, the Town of Normal, from our universities, they are advocates, and volunteers,” said Board Trustee and working group chair Judy Buchanan.

Working group members are:

Kimberly Klepec – Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Bloomington; Long time Connect Mobility and Fixed Route Rider; Community Volunteer

Tim Bassett – Vice President, Support and Ancillary Services, Advocate BroMenn, multiple leadership and oversight roles; Adjunct Faculty Member at ISU; Community volunteer; Board Member of Non-Profit Organization

Marty Eckert – Connect Transit Driver; ATU Local 752 Board Member

Linda Foster – Member, Connect Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC); Retired from ISU; Connect Transit rider, as well as family

Dylan Hile-Broad – ISU student; Reliant Connect Transit rider, resides in Bloomington-Normal

Steven P. Kossman – Retired, Criminal Justice; First Superintendent of McLean County Juvenile Detention
Center; Community Volunteer, Board Member of a Non-Profit Organization

Josh W Barnett – Member, McLean County Board with service on Property, Transportation and Justice Committees; Community Volunteer with civic and nonprofit organizations

Deborah Presley – Educator and life-long Bloomington-Normal resident; Disability advocate with special interest in public transportation

Katie Killian – Assistant Vice President Student Affairs, Illinois State University

Julie Hile – Connect Transit Trustee, appointed by the Mayor, Town of Normal; Personal and professional interest in public transportation; Professional affiliation, Consultant Hile Group, Normal

Judy Buchanan – Connect Transit Trustee, appointed by the Mayor, City of Bloomington; Retired Health Care Administration and Political Consulting; Advocate, Behavioral Health; Civic and community volunteer

Howard Packowitz can be reached at Howard [email protected]