Illinois allocated $40 million to improve multimodal infrastructure, connectivity

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will invest $40 million in Illinois projects that will improve multimodal transportation, support connectivity, build roadway infrastructure, align roads and enhance pedestrian safety. 

The city of Edwardsville will receive $21.2 million to reconstruct and improve a roadway section. The completed project will help support non-vehicle related mobility through alternative multimodal transit options. By reducing the level of dependency on vehicles, the city will reduce its carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

The project will install solar lighting and green medians along a 1.8-mile stretch of road, build 2.9-miles of shared-use path, convert three intersections to roundabouts and rehabilitate a portion of the road to mitigate flooding. In addition, the city will update a bus stop, install 10 electric vehicle (EV) stations and build three bicycle parking facilities. Construction is expected to begin in June 2029. 

Lake County will use $18.8 million to align a section of road to improve safety and accessibility to essential community amenities and multimodal transit options. Plans include building five intersections, share-use paths and bicycle paths. 

To improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, the city will also build additional ADA-compliant sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. The project will improve one of the city’s commuter railway stations by extending the platform, consolidating parking and building warming shelters, bus stop shelters and kiss-and-ride facilities. Construction is expected to begin in February 2026. 

USDOT allocated the funds through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. The RAISE program invests in community projects to build and renovate critical transportation infrastructure projects across the country.  

The projects are a selection of 148 receiving a portion of the recently announced $1.8 billion in RAISE funding for Fiscal Year 2024. Including the latest round, USDOT has invested $7.2 billion across 550 projects through the RAISE program since it was established.

Photo courtesy Illinois2011 (Tyler Warren), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons