Passenger Link – October 2021
CityLink on the Move Public Meetings Scheduled for November
CityLink is gearing up to host another round of upcoming public meetings to share information and receive feedback on the proposed implementation of the CityLink on the Move service improvement plan that is planned for implementation in March 2022. There will be two virtual meeting opportunities and five in-person meeting opportunities. The meeting dates/times/locations are listed on the website.
Please note the following:
- The virtual meetings require pre-registration.
- Registration can be found online here: www.ridecitylink.org/public-meeting-virtual-registration-form
- Face masks/coverings are required to be worn at all in-person public meetings.
- For those unable to attend the virtual or in-person public meetings, there is an online survey option available until December 1, 2021.
- The online survey can be accessed here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/CityLink2021
Please visit City Link on the Move for more information on the CityLink on the Move Transit Study, the upcoming public meetings, and the online survey option.
Ground Has Been Broken on New Paint/Body Shop
There has been a lot of action happening behind the CityLink garages located at the NE Jefferson facilities. Ground has officially been broken for the new paint/body shop, which is Phase A of the new maintenance and administrative facilities construction project.
So far, the crew from River City Construction has cleared the empty lot next to the visitor parking lot for construction worker parking, placed footings for the new building, drilled tie backs and tested them, began excavation and installation of the lagging, and started pouring concrete for the walls and foundation.
Visit our blog for updates on the construction project progress!
CityLink Unveils Three New Proterra Electric Buses
CityLink hosted an event on September 8, 2021, to officially unveil its three new Proterra battery-electric buses. Several dignitaries attended the event, and remarks were made by CityLink General Manager Doug Roelfs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Representative Darin LaHood, U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos, NRDC’s (Natural Resources Defense Council) Selena Kyle on behalf of the Edwards settlement plaintiffs and community partners, and Proterra founder Dale Hill. At the beginning of the event, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and Proterra also hosted a unique ribbon cutting with one of the buses breaking a banner that served as the ribbon.
All three buses are 35-foot Proterra Catalyst® battery-electric buses. Designed and manufactured in the United States, Proterra battery-electric buses feature zero tailpipe emissions, saving approximately 230,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually when replacing a diesel bus.
CityLink received $2.3 million in funding for two of these buses (2402 and 2403) in July 2019 from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), as part of the Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program.
CityLink was selected as a recipient of $1.23 million to fund the purchase of bus 2401 and the accompanying charging infrastructure in February 2020 as part of the Edwards Settlement Fund Distribution.
It is expected that the buses will be added to the fixed-route fleet by the end of the year. More photos from the unveiling event can be viewed on the CityLink Facebook page at www.facebook.com/citylinkpeoria.
Stuff-A-Bus 2021
The 34th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive is happening Oct. 22-Nov. 30, 2021 and the goal this year is to collect 10 tons of food!
For the past 34 years, CityLink has hosted the Stuff-A-Bus food drive to help eliminate hunger in Peoria. With a long partnership with Kroger to collect enough food to stuff a classic CityLink bus, the donations collected during the annual food drive benefit the food pantry at the Peoria Friendship House. Also participating as longtime partners in the food drive are Cumulus Radio, WYZZ Fox 43, WMBD CBS 31, CIPROUD.com, and the Amalgamated Transit Union #416.
Donations can be dropped off at all Kroger store locations in Peoria and East Peoria from Oct. 22 until Nov. 30. Other drop-off locations are listed on the CityLink website at Stuff A Bus.
Other important dates for passengers to take note of during the 2021 Stuff-A-Bus campaign:
- November 3: Ride Free Day – Passengers ride free on CityLink buses with the donation of a non-perishable food item. (One donation is required per ride.)
- November 10: Ride Free Day – Passengers ride free on CityLink buses with the donation of a non-perishable food item. (One donation is required per ride.)
- November 17: Calendar Day – The public can receive a free 2022 Peoria Historical Calendar in exchange for a donation of nonperishable food at the Transit Center or CityLink administrative offices starting at 8 a.m.
- November 19: Day of Stuffing – Will take place at the Kroger store located at 801 W. Lake Ave. in Peoria from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. WMBD/WYZZ-TV and Peoria Cumulus Radio stations will broadcast live from the store parking lot inviting people to come to the store and make a donation to help stuff the CityLink bus. Television and radio personalities and other special guests will be on hand during the event.
- November 30: Weigh-In Day Press Conference – The final weight of the food collected will be revealed at a press conference at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service at 10 a.m.
Please visit facebook.com/stuffabuspeoria for the most up-to-date information on this year’s food drive.
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