Neil Street Corridor Beautification

The News-Gazette had details on the winning beautification plan for Champaign's Neil Street Corridor from I-74 to downtown.

Neil St Corridor On the Road to a Revamp
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One part beautification project, one part safety initiative, the plan unveiled this week is set to be discussed in-depth at a March 29 public hearing. From there, it will be tweaked as needed and sent to Champaign’s plan commission and city council for review.

Plans are for the $100,000 facelift, which was approved last year, to be implemented long term over the next several years. Ratio Architects is spearheading the project...

Design features include the following, according to the report: — Improving the intersection where drivers exit from I-74 onto the corridor.

• Widening the parkway and having street trees throughout most of the corridor.
•  Adding Neil Street access to Hazel Park.
• Reducing curb cuts and promoting rear alley access through most of the corridor, on the side a block away from Hickory Street.
• Creating multi-use trail space.
• Commercial land use in lots by the I-74 exit.
• Adding mid-block crosswalks near the beginning and end of the corridor.

Some design elements are intended to reduce speed:

“Reducing the number of lanes, reducing lane widths and then adding crosswalks, streetlights, street trees ... those are physical cues for people to slow down,” Marino said.

Specifically, the design includes going from four traffic lanes to three for a bulk of the corridor, in addition to making the two-way traffic between Columbia Avenue and Washington Street into a one-way southbound.

“Three lanes will potentially improve safety and ... slow down traffic while allowing the same amount of traffic volume to go through the corridor,” Marino said.

The selected plan will be discussed at a public hearing March 29th and likely voted on by the City Council around May. Hearing date and location:

The March 29 public hearing will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Herriott’s Rents, Tents and Events, 1420 N. Neil St. (map)

Details of the plan will be discussed and altered through the City of Champaign's Plan Commission (meeting times and information):

The Plan Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council. It discusses and reviews various land-use and related issues. It also considers preliminary and final subdivision plats, zoning changes, and annexation agreements.

The Commission consists of seven members and two alternates.  All are appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. Each member is appointed to a three-year term.