This project will provide:

• pedestrian, bicycle and passenger access beneath the Union Pacific Railroad, connecting the north and south passenger platforms for Amtrak passengers and providing a safe and accessible passage for Constitution Trail users.
• a safe, convenient and accessible passage for bikes and pedestrians between Uptown North and Uptown South, eliminating the barrier of the tracks and promoting economic development on both sides.

Community Impact & Benefits:

Increased safety
The Town of Normal is experiencing increased number of trains and increased speeds of trains, as well as slower and stopped trains, all of which create safety concerns at the Linden & Broadway crossings; the underpass will ensure fewer conflicts with trains, pedestrians and cyclists. The underpass will allow pedestrian, bicyclists, and Amtrak passengers to access Uptown north and south regardless of whether a train is present, providing a safer connection to both sides of the railroad tracks.

Economic opportunity
The underpass offers opportunities for expanded economic success of Uptown Normal by creating a more direct connection between the north and south plazas. A direct connection between the current Uptown business district and the 8 acres south of the railroad tracks will make redevelopment in this area more appealing. The underpass will attract people to the area, contributing to the success of existing businesses and efforts to attract new businesses, which create and support jobs. The effort will also create additional gathering and green space, both of which are needed in Uptown Normal.