By: Diane Benjamin Awarding a new contract to build the underpass is NOT on Monday’s agenda: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5568 Did the Council finally come to their senses? Don’t count on it. Link to just one of numerous underpass stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/06/normal-doesnt-have-an-underpass-contractor/ That story says the grant deadline to finish the project is June 2027, but I also heard […]
By: Diane Benjamin Review this story about the underpass, it has lots of the underpass history: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/27/normals-underpass-history/ See the email in that story. The underpass SAVES 50 FEET for the low cost of $40,000,000+. Tonight’s Packet PDF page 76: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 Social media comments have destroyed Koos and Company ever since this idea was floated: . […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to this story the Normal Council held a special meeting last night: https://www.wglt.org/politics-and-government/2025-10-30/completing-uptown-normal-underpass-to-require-tax-hikes?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook The project is unaffordable, so staff wants to raise taxes. Drivers stuck behind trains blocking the tracks can watch walkers and bikers go under the tracks. Keep in mind Normal could have had a FREE overpass years ago […]
By: Diane Benjamin This meeting happened less than a year ago – July 19, 2021. It was difficult to pick the part taxpayers need to see. Listening to the entire discussion shows how government operates, it starts at 1:24:00. Take free money, figure out the details later. The part I picked shows taking the Federal […]
By: Diane Benjamin I posted this story on April 16: https://blnnews.com/2021/04/16/hey-normal/ Since Federal and State grants will be paying for most of Normal’s new FANCY bike trail under the railroad tracks in Uptown, even if you don’t live in Normal you have a right to comment. Buzzing around I overheard comments have been largely negative. […]
https://www.normal.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2268 The Normal Town Council has never voted to build the underpass, that hasn’t stop “staff” from making it happen anyway. Citizens now have a chance to comment. Your comments will supposedly be forwarded to the Federal Railroad Administration. Read the description at the link above and then email comments to: jcomfort@normal.org Utopia is only […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night a debate was held between Normal’s current Mayor, Chris Koos, and his challenger Marc Tiritilli. In 2017 the same two faced off, only 18.2% of registered voters bothered to vote. Think your vote doesn’t mater? Look at this: WGLT has the debate posted on their Facebook page. Tiritilli thinks Normal […]
By: Diane Benjamin The document below and MANY others were received by FOIA via a reader. From the submitted underpass application for Federal Funds: Included in the application for Federal Funds: Who writes a letter and fails to have a DATE on it? Pam Reece: Fully committed? When was the vote Pam? Behind closed doors […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal got a $13,000,000 federal grant to build their underpass: https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/feds-release-m-for-rail-underpass-at-normal-s-uptown/article_7ce728cf-0d70-5475-8300-3f0e6b7a703a.html#1 The last I heard the town had requested $16 million, Normal taxpayers were suppose to cough up $7,000,000. Since Normal only got $13,000,000 – Normal now needs $10,000,000! Do they have that tucked away in a drawer somewhere (meaning they have […]
