By Ron Ulmer
The Normal Town Council recently approved a $1.4 million consulting fee to evaluate alternative pedestrian crossings for trail and rail users at Gateway Plaza. Gateway Plaza, adjacent to the Amtrak Station welcomes travelers and commuters to Uptown Normal via Amtrak, inter and intra city bus, taxi and Constitution trail commuters.
The Union Pacific RR, Illinois Commerce Commission, IDOT, and representatives from various department and boards from the Town of Normal were involved in the planning of the high speed passenger rail station which included moving the South track farther South through the station area and all new RR crossings through town.
In addition to the above participants, a respected successful urban architect was hired who planned access from the North on Constitution Boulevard. Inconceivably, two monumental omissions were made. These omissions are the failure to plan for pedestrian trail and rail users to enter Gateway Plaza from the South and to include convenient street level drop off &pick-up area for passengers.
Did the plans show any pedestrian crossing near the station? If the plans did show the grade crossing, why did not any of the planners notice the grade level crossing and if so make objections during the planning stage rather than after the station construction was well under way? Why did the urban architect not know that Illinois had not allowed an at-grade crossing at new passenger stations for decades? Since Constitution Trail is considered the jewel of parks in Bloomington-Normal why did no one from Parks or any Town planners ask what, if any changes, even if just gates and warning lights needed to be added to the former trail grade crossing? Now we the taxpayers are paying for the expensive study to evaluate the pedestrian crossing options and to bear the burden of tearing up and rebuilding of Gateway Plaza and passenger plat forms at a much higher total cost than if the crossing was included in the Uptown Station plans.
Additionally, I cannot think of another major transportation center without a convenient passenger drop off or pick up area.Can you? The entire ground level of the parking deck should have been designed to include bus, taxi, and private vehicle pick up and drop off instead of trying to shoe horn in the vacant space that eventually became University Gallery. The vacant space in the College Avenue deck remains vacant. It is no wonder that citizens are fed up and angry with the government.
Ron Ulmer is an economist, have taught economics/finance at 3 central Illinois universities and employed by Illinois Power as a Senior Rate Analyst, supervisor of economic research, Market Program Manager. Now retired, Current member Normal Kiwanis, past 25 year member Optimist International Service Club, Property owner and manager in Normal for 37 years ongoing.
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