By WMBD TV
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Heartland Community College and Connect Transit are collaborating to bring a new bus line to McLean County, from Pontiac to Normal.
“We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Connect Transit and the McLean County Board that will provide access for individuals to get from Pontiac and the Pontiac area down here to Normal for classes, for in-person classes that we don’t offer at our Pontiac center,” said Keith Cornille, president of HCC.
The line will follow Route 66 from Normal to Pontiac, stopping at other communities along the way. This line will remove transportation barriers and give HCC students in Pontiac the chance to get more hands-on experience that is only offered at the Normal campus.
“With the high cost of fuel right now, it can allow students to jump on the bus and then get here to take classes at over a hundred different hands-on in-person courses that we have here that we can’t offer up in the Pontiac Center,” Cornille said.
While the line is made for students, who can ride for free, community members can also use the line if they pay the fare.
“It’s important for us to make the service available for students. Providing access to opportunity is a really important thing. It provides access to other mobility options for folks who live in those areas along that corridor. So they benefit from the opportunity for students,” said Brady Lange, CEO of Connect Transit.
The line will begin starting in the Fall. It will run Monday to Thursday, with the bus leaving Pontiac at eight a.m. and leaving Normal at four p.m.
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
