MTD Pulse

A $9,950,930 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Federal grant has been awarded to the City of Urbana to complete the Florida Avenue Corridor Project.

According to Urbana City Engineer John Zeman, the project will reconstruct approximately 1.3 miles of Florida Avenue from South Wright Street to Hillcrest Avenue to include complete street enhancements. Improvements will include ADA-accessible sidewalks, an off-street shared use path, bus pullouts and shelters, pavement reconstruction, intersection improvements, and traffic signals in place of all-way stop signs, accessible pedestrian signals, and bicycle detection.

“We plan to build the shared-use path between Lincoln Avenue and Race Street in 2025 through an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant, in advance of the larger complete streets project,” Zeman said.

“Thanks to this grant funding, the City of Urbana can now bring this critical project to life. This project will improve safety, upgrade infrastructure, protect bike paths, and connect key local spots like the University’s athletic facilities and historic neighborhoods. Not to mention, it will create over 150 construction jobs, providing a serious boost to our local economy,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “Overall, this is a huge win for our community. I’m proud to have advocated for these funds and will keep working to secure the federal resources our communities need and deserve."

Laura Weis, President & CEO of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce said that the Florida Avenue Corridor Reconstruction Project has been a priority for Champaign County First for several years. 

“This public-private partnership has united academic, private, and public sectors to drive economic development and infrastructure investment. The newly secured funding for Florida Avenue will allow the community to modernize the corridor, enhancing transit and pedestrian access safety. Working together creates opportunities, fosters innovation, and ensures long-term growth for Champaign County. The funding that Champaign County First partners have secured for our community with the assistance of our state and federal officials, including the funding for this project, totals approximately $86 million for the year. It is a testament to the partner's commitment to working together to advance our community," Weis said.

Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said this will be a major improvement for Urbana.

“With this grant, we can finally replace one of the lousiest stretches of pavement in the City, improve accessibility, and make traveling safer for people of all abilities and ages.  Furthermore, the side path also will close the gap in our bicycle network between Race Street and Lincoln Avenue,” Marlin said. “I want to thank Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Representative Nikki Budzinski, along with our community partners in Champaign County First, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, the City of Urbana Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen and Chancellor Robert Jones for their support.”

"This grant represents the tremendous value of cross-agency partnerships. From the planning study from the Regional Planning Commission, to the resources from the City of Urbana, from the advocacy through Champaign County First, to MTD's multiple submittals of the grant to this federal program, all roadway users and residents win," said Karl Gnadt, Managing Director/CEO of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD).

“Florida Avenue is a vital route through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where it connects our world-class athletic and recreational facilities, residence halls and other important campus properties to the surrounding community,” said Illinois Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “We are pleased that the RAISE grant will help us work with our city, state and federal partners to ensure that Florida Avenue remains accessible and safe for the students, faculty, staff and visitors who rely on this thoroughfare every day.”

Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) CEO, Dalitso Sulamoyo added, “The Florida Avenue RAISE funding will implement recommendations from the Florida Avenue Corridor Study, which will improve safety, accessibility, and connectivity for all users. The improvements will make walking, biking, and riding MTD buses to Urbana destinations safer by providing an improved road surface and signage, dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and bus shelters to seamlessly connect different travel modes. RPC is pleased that it collaborated with the City of Urbana to complete the corridor study as a critical part of applying for the RAISE grant.”