Transportation

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Tax increase proposal for CU's MTD gets hearing

CHAMPAIGN – Taxpayers can voice their opinions Wednesday on a new property tax proposal for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District.

The tax levy is a 7.5 percent increase.

A hearing will be held at 3 p.m. that day at Illinois Terminal, 45 E. University Ave., C.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

State troopers to be out in force over the holiday

As motorists travel to and from their Thanksgiving get-togethers, state troopers will be out in force to crack down on speeding, drunken driving, failure to wear seat belts and other safety issues.

Troopers will be posted every 10 miles on highways the day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward, according to state police Master Sgt. Brian Ley. The patrols will be from noon to 10 p.m. Nov. 26 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov 30, but state and local agencies will have extra patrols throughout the holiday weekend, he said.

Caution light should help firefighters responding in Savoy

SAVOY – The village fire department is being held up by a stop sign.

Currently, when responding to incident calls, emergency vehicles stop before turning onto Dunlap Avenue from Tomaras Avenue.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Traffic coping after section of Neil Street closed

CHAMPAIGN – Two southbound lanes of Neil Street in downtown Champaign were closed by the city Monday afternoon – and could remain closed for an extended period – because of concerns that a fire-damaged law-office building could collapse into the street.

The city closed Neil Street near the building, just south of the intersection with Main and Church streets, at 1 p.m. Monday. The sidewalk on the west side of Neil was also closed.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Hazards from fire close section of Neil Street

CHAMPAIGN – A section of Neil Street is being closed due to possible hazards from a fire that destroyed one building and damaged others Nov. 7.

Champaign fire officials announced Monday that the closure was to be completed Monday afternoon.

Engineers take another look at shared wall

CHAMPAIGN – A fire truck was once again at the scene of downtown's Metropolitan Building Sunday, but only for a structural check.

Engineers hired by the law firm Dobbins Fraker Tennant Joy & Perlstein re-inspected the shared wall between the firm and the Metropolitan Building, which was destroyed in a Nov. 7 fire. The law firm's three-story building at 215 N. Neil St. was heavily damaged in the fire.

Wintry conditions cause several vehicles to leave Interstate 74

ST. JOSEPH - Slushy road conditions sent several vehicles off Interstate 74 early Saturday evening.

State police were called to the area between St. Joseph and the overpass about 7 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

World traveler's top pastime: Making people feel at home

CHAMPAIGN – Elizabeth Dickerson was in Paris last weekend and Moscow in September. She'll soon make one of her regular trips to India. And she'll likely be in Europe again, or Japan or Shanghai, in the next several months.

Dickerson loves the travel and adventure and seeing new sights that come with her career as an international flight attendant.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

King Elementary cyclists get a rules roundup at bicycle rodeo

URBANA – If you're expecting lassoes and cowboy hats, you've come to the wrong place.

Instead, expect newly refurbished bicycles, helmets and accoutrements, and plenty of adults out to make sure kids know the two-wheeled rules of the road.

Danville officials, residents discuss fixes for Jackson Street

DANVILLE – Avid bicyclist Bob Bookwalter would like bike paths incorporated into a reconstruction of Jackson Street, one of the city's major north-south corridors that connects not only residential neighborhoods but also an elementary school, middle school, Danville High School and the YMCA.

"Jackson is supposed to be a corridor for bicycles, but you take your life into your own hands if you ride in that bike lane," said Bookwalter, referring to the wide shoulder along Jackson that was originally meant as a bike lane when it was built.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Veterans now have more options for their license plates

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois now offers more license-plate options for veterans.

Until this week, military plates were available only with numeric characters. Now, the plates are available in two formats: vanity, which involves a combination of letters; and personalized, which have a combination of letters and numbers.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Danville four-way stop called a success at end of trial period

DANVILLE – After 90 days without a stoplight, the decision became easy. The intersection at North Vermilion and Seminary streets will remain a four-way stop.

"The overwhelming consensus was to leave it a four-way stop," said City Engineer David Schnelle.

This summer, city officials decided to consider switching that intersection from a stoplight to a four-way stop so traffic could flow better.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Cycling concerns have Urbana in parking predicament

URBANA – Bicycle lanes or diagonal parking?

In coming weeks, Urbana aldermen likely will face a choice between those two options for Main Street between Broadway Avenue and Race Street, in the heart of downtown.

Friday, November 7, 2008

'Corn Cruizer' bus line to link towns with Danville

DANVILLE – Perhaps by this time next year, the Corn Cruizer will be regularly trekking between Hoopeston and Danville, filled with people on their way to jobs, doctors' appointments or shopping trips.

Hickory to be closed at railway crossing

CHAMPAIGN – Hickory Street will be closed starting Monday at the Norfolk Southern Railway crossing between Colu- mbia Avenue and North Street.

The closure, which will last about two weeks, is being done so Norfolk Southern can construct a new crossing, according to the city's Public Works department. Another company, Open Road Paving, will be adding approach pavement and sidewalks near the crossing.

State sets 15-ton limit on bridge over ditch near Allerton

PARIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation has posted a 15-ton load limit on a bridge carrying Illinois 514 over a ditch south of Allerton. It is located at the west end of the Allerton-Sidell Road.

Traffic can detour on the north-south route connecting Illinois 49 with Allerton.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Weight limits to be set for Mansfield streets

MANSFIELD – Village trustees will meet together this month to set weight limits for Mansfield streets.

Trustee Don Deffenbaugh said he has received numerous calls about truck traffic on Newton Street during the weekends. Trustee Jeff Lindenbaum, Mayor Steve Gaines and Deffenbaugh have formed a committee to look at weight limit recommendations for all streets. They will also make plans for limited truck routes that still allow businesses to continue their operations, but protect Mansfield streets.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Danville's automated trash trucks start rolling Monday

DANVILLE – Here are two reminders for city of Danville residents this weekend: Change your clocks and get your trash in the toters.

Daylight saving time ends this weekend, so clocks need to be turned back one hour.

And on Monday, the city's new fully automated garbage trucks shift into high gear on all routes, so any garbage left outside toters won't get collected, according to city officials.

Danville to begin Lynch Road bus routes Monday

DANVILLE – On Monday, Danville Mass Transit begins its new bus routes to Lynch Road to connect workers with employers in the city's Eastgate area.

The 14 Lynch route will operate eight times a day, Monday through Friday.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Teen driving safety focus of students' campaign

GIBSON CITY – Red isn't just one of the school colors at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School, and winning isn't just for the football team this season.

Students at GCMS were all sporting red ribbons and earning prizes in school colors during October's homecoming and Red Ribbon Week festivities, but their focus was on winning the battle to keep students safe from their number one killer – vehicle crashes.