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Interstate signs to mark Illinois electric-vehicle stations
May 15, 2021 GMT
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Interstate highway drivers in Illinois will soon see signs directing them to charging stations for electric vehicles.
The Illinois Department of Transportation says it’s part of a national effort to promote autos that run on alternative fuels.
It’s also in line with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s goal of putting 750,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030.
The Federal Highway Administration has designated 145,000 miles of interstate for promoting alternative fuels. In Illinois, signs will go up on Interstates 39, 55, 70, 74, 80, 90 and 94.
The blue signs will read “Alternative Fuels Corridor.” The Transportation Department later will add the charging-station directional information to its blue signs near exit ramps which direct motorists to gas stations, restaurants, hotels and camping sites, and tourist attractions.
How do engineers determine whether a bridge is safe? David Proeber
DECATUR â As a driver for Birch Bus Service in Cerro Gordo, Deb Taylor crosses Lake Decatur twice every school day using Reas Bridge Road, one of 60 Macon County bridges deemed âpoorâ on a federal database. Itâs a designation that concerns her.
âEspecially when youâre carrying precious cargo that we do,â she said.
Reas Bridge is set for repairs after being listed for years in the National Bridge Inventory, a Federal Highway Administration database that tracks the structural integrity of 620,000 bridges in the U.S.
The vast majority of bridges nationally and in Macon County are structurally sound and motorists are in no danger. But there also those that fall into the lower categories, and officials say they are taking steps to address any issues.
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Mattoon, IL, USA / MyRadioLink.com
For Immediate Release – May 13, 2021
Top national diversity award for IDOT, Acting Secretary Osman
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation and Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman have received top national honors from Women in Transportation Seminar International, a group that promotes the development and advancement of women in transportation. A 31-year IDOT employee who has led the agency since 2019, Osman has been named recipient of the WTS Recognition Honorable Ray LaHood Award for his longtime efforts to promote diversity.
“At IDOT, we’re committed to ensuring equitable opportunities across the board,” said Osman. “Whether it’s promoting women to leadership positions or ensuring women- and minority-owned businesses have a level playing field in our industry, we are dedicated to creating a culture of equality and a team that is representative of the full spectrum of our great state.”