Project Summary
Since 1999, the cities of Champaign and Urbana have partnered with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to encourage the development of the assets around the University of Illinois campus. Much of the progress of past plans can be seen along the Green Street corridor.
The goals for the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement (MCORE) project include:
- improve mobility choices
- improve the ability to provide high-frequency and accessible public transportation services in the project corridors
- bring the streets to a state of good repair
- provide increased access to jobs, health care and services
- incorporate complete street design components, such as reduced-width vehicle lanes, shared lane markings, bicycle or bus lanes, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, enhanced bus stops, bus prioritization of traffic signals, on-street bicycle lanes, bus-only lanes, curb bump-outs, vehicle and pedestrian street lighting and streetscape elements
- create critical links between the two cities and their downtown areas
- enable motorists to become pedestrians conveniently and safely
- implement the principles of walkable urban thoroughfares and sustainable and green designs
- obtain public input
Joint-venture partners Clark Dietz and Hanson prepared a project development study and project plans, specifications and estimates for roadway improvements to the following core transit corridors in the university district:
- Project 1: Green Street (Wright Street to Busey Avenue)
- Project 2: Green Street (Neil Street to Fourth Street)
- Project 3: White Street (Second Street to Wright) and Wright (White Street to Springfield Avenue)
- Project 4: Armory Avenue (Fourth to Wright) and Wright (Armory to Springfield)
- Project 5: Green Street (Busey to Race Street)
The proposed improvements consisted of changing the cross sections of each street to create a more balanced and complete street network that supports safe pedestrian, bicycle, transit and vehicular travel. Each street will have curb, gutter, storm sewer and streetscape improvements to encourage development within the surrounding study area. The documents were prepared in accordance with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s federal guidelines in the Bureau of Local Roads and Streets Manual.