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iBi - April 2009
Gary Uftring
Uftring Auto Group
From a very young age, Gary Uftring has been passionate about cars, beginning his work in the automotive industry by doing mechanical repairs on his family’s farm.
iBi Focus

Transportation

On the Record with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
Upon his retirement from Congress in 2008, Ray LaHood was appointed by President Barack Obama to head the U.S. Department of Transportation. iBi spoke with Secretary LaHood on February 21st, 2009, several days prior to the president’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Maritime Activity Under the Radar
by Steve Jaeger
Heart of Illinois Regional Port District/TransPORT
With about 30,000 vehicles passing daily over the Illinois Waterway via five bridges in the Peoria-Pekin area, one might think that the ongoing movement of river barges would be etched on our collective regional consciousness.
Rail Freight Transportation Vital to Local Economy
by David P. Jordan
In an age of interstate highways, commercial airline travel and the private automobile, rail freight is, with limited exception, the reason for the survival of the nation’s rail system. Of course, it more than survives—it prospers. Not a single major railroad has entered bankruptcy court in two decades.
Powering Electric Vehicles
A Conversation with Mil Ovan, Firefly Energy
iBi spoke with Firefly Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Mil Ovan on February 20, 2009. Ovan was in Washington D.C. to discuss the recently passed stimulus package with legislators on Capitol Hill.
Could Peoria Be the Next Amtrak Destination?
by C. J. Summers
Peoria Passenger Rail Coalition
Amtrak recently completed studies on adding train service to Rockford and the Quad Cities. Peoria, with the third-largest metropolitan statistical area in the state, would be a natural addition.
Peoria International Airport Poised for Growth
by David P. Jordan
There is far more to the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport than a name.
Crumbling Infrastructure, Growing Needs
by State Sen. Dale Risinger, 37th Senate District
According to a recent study, a comprehensive capital plan would create 535,000 new, full-time jobs, lead to $49 billion in economic activity and generate more than $2.9 billion in state and local tax revenues.
CityLink: The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District
by Alice Nobles Arn
CityLink
CityLink currently provides over 2.5 million passengers with transportation on 22 routes in the communities of Peoria, West Peoria, Peoria Heights, East Peoria, Sunnyland, Creve Coeur, Pekin and Bartonville.
Critical Components in Strengthening Our Logistical Infrastructure
by Cindy Patterson
Economic Development Council for Central Illinois
Globalization, intermodalism and the economy are now the waves that shape our transportation landscape.
The Stimulus Package
A Missed Opportunity
by Congressman Aaron Schock, 18th Congressional District
It is important to note, however, that the stimulus is not the final word Congress will have on transportation and infrastructure this session.
Refocusing the Traffic Commission
by Pat Sullivan
Peoria Traffic Commission
I believe changing the name to the Transportation Commission would better reflect what this commission is about—it’s more than just automobile traffic.
Railroads and Peoria
A Capsule History
by David P. Jordan
As more railroads arrived, the city’s importance grew as an alternative gateway to bypass Chicago’s congested yards.
Regional Transportation
Short-Term Stimulus and Long-Term Investment
by John A. Chambers
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
Our communities and our region require an analysis of transportation patterns and infrastructure investments with a much longer-term horizon.
Walkable Urban Areas
The Future is Now
by Lisa Ferolo, Anne Bartolo, Jennifer Brady & Scott Sorrel
Campaign for a Walkable West Bluff
One short walk or bus ride up the Main Street hill, and you could be met by a creative, exciting commercial corridor anchored by the history and beauty of the West Bluff.

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iBi Balance
Time-Saving Help with Healthy Eating
With work and all the other obligations that arise during the week, it can be difficult to find time to plan healthy, balanced meals for your family.
Advancing Women in Transportation
Founded in 1977, the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) was created by 40 women in the transportation industry in Washington, D.C. They recognized the need to improve professional and personal advancement and develop industry and government recognition for women in transportation.
Also in Balance...
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