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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016
Vol. 128 / No. 39
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
Upset City: Redbirds shock Shockers Lee’s 19 points, clutch free throws lead ISU past No. 21 Wichita State in 58-53 court-storming win JOSH TOLENTINO Sports Editor
Illinois State University shocked the nationally ranked No. 21 Wichita State Shockers 58-53 late Saturday evening at Redbird Arena behind a valiant effort from junior guard Paris Lee. The Maywood, Ill., native paced the Redbirds (14-11, 8-4 MVC) with 19 points and three steals, shooting 7-for-8 from the free throw line. “Paris was incredible,” head coach Dan Muller said. “He’s such a competitor. He made plays for his teammates; Paris was outstanding.” Muller is the first coach in program history to defeat a nationally ranked team in four straight years. “They’re a great team,” sophomore forward Deontae Hawkins said. “We just outcompeted them.” Hawkins added 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell netted 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Bret Farrell | Photographer
Fans storm the court and lift junior guard Paris Lee after ISU’s victory over nationally ranked, top conference foe Wichita State at Redbird Arena.
See UPSET page 8
Temporary railroad crossing planned for Uptown BRENT BADER Senior Reporter
The Town of Normal plans to install a temporary at-grade crossing at Uptown Station, allowing Amtrak riders to cross between tracks until a permanent solution is constructed. The ground-level crossing will be similar to the more common vehicle crossings in Normal. “There will be a gate for pedestrians like you see at vehicle crossings,” Wayne Aldrich, public works director, said. “Plus there will be an audio-visual warning device with a spoken warning that another train is coming.” Construction is expected to begin sometime this summer and will likely be a three-to-fourmonth project. Currently, the possible permanent solution is an underpass to assist not only Amtrak passengers, but the Town of Normal as a whole. “We began looking into the idea of an underpass which would be a free-flowing underpass under the rail line, so not only Amtrak passengers but anyone going from one side of the tracks to the other can go without delays,” Mark Peterson, city manager, said. Peterson estimates that it will likely take five years to approve and construct, and the at-grade crossing will suffice until construction is complete. The at-grade crossing’s five-year lifespan is
Tracy Conoboy | Photographer
A temporary at-grade crossing is planned to be installed at Uptown Station for passenger ease. one set not only by the construction time of the underpass, but also by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). “This is something the railroad and the department of transportation don’t want to become the permanent solution,” Aldrich said. “They have performance outcome agreements between these agencies that deal with the on time performance of the Amtrak trains and even an at-grade crossing would affect the performance.”
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The underpass is roughly estimated to cost around $11 million, but a more specific number will be available after a feasibility summary is conducted in the summer. The railroad company will design the underpass, build it and would then be reimbursed. IDOT is expected to pay for the project with federal money, but if the project is ineligible for the money, the Town of Normal will fund it. After construction of the permanent crossing is complete, the station will also receive
other improvements. “After the high-speed rail project gets completed, both sets of tracks in Normal will be upgraded. That will allow two trains to be pulled into the station at one time,” Aldrich said. The new crossing became necessary after a previous crossing was deemed unsafe by railway officials. “We’ve had a ground level crossing behind the train station for many years,” Peterson said. “About two years ago we were informed by the Federal Railroad Administration and Illinois Department of Transportation that the railroad would no longer allow at-grade crossings next to stations because of safety concerns.” Because Amtrak passengers are no longer able to cross the train tracks, all passenger trains are brought in along the north track, which is adjacent to the station. The south track is currently reserved solely for freight trains. Because of this separation, construction on the at-grade crossing is expected to have minimal impact on Uptown Station operations. While an enclosed climate-controlled overhead walkway was also considered, it would have only been useful for Amtrak passengers, and the underpass became the primary project for consideration.
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