City of Decatur Community Projects
Receiving Federal Funding Pursuant to the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
The City of Decatur and associated entities will receive more than $6 million in Federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which is commonly referred to as the “economic stimulus package.” The funding is allocated to a variety of community programs and services related to transportation, the homeless and low-to-moderate income residents. This information is what is known at the present time in terms of the amounts and people and programs the funds are intended to serve. There is the possibility that additional funding may be forthcoming to further help pay for other necessary projects and services.
The Decatur Urbanized Area Transportation Study (DUATS) received a total of $4,646,309 for capital and transportation projects in the Decatur Metropolitan Area. DUATS is the regional transportation planning entity for the Decatur metropolitan area. DUATS member entities include Macon County, City of Decatur, Village of Forsyth, Village of Mt. Zion, Decatur Park District, Illinois Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration.
$2.949,008 in ARRA funding allocated to DUATS was intended to be used for transportation infrastructure projects that met the eligibility requirements for Federal Surface Transportation Program – Urban (STP-U) and were “shovel ready.” All of the projects approved by DUATS met STP-U guidelines and are able to be implemented on or before the March 3, 2010, deadline.
Through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DUATS approved $1,697,301 in funding for capital projects managed, operated and maintained by the Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS). Like the transportation infrastructure projects, ARRA required that all approved transit related projects be “shovel ready.”
DUATS approved one (1) road construction project and three (3) bridge projects to receive ARRA funding. A summary of these project is provided below.
ARRA Funding
ProjectNumberARRA Amount
Garfield St. Bridge over CNRR 05-03 $ 792,000
Main/Henderson St. Bypass, Mt. Zion R241 $1,229,600
Twin Bridges, west of Forsyth on C.H. 20 MC10-01 $ 480,000
MacArthur St. Bridge, north of Ash St. 06-02 $ 447,408 (Remaining ARRA funds)
Total ARRA Funds Available$2,949,008
STP-U Funding
MacArthur St. Bridge, north of Ash St. 06-02 $ 352,592 (Total Cost is $800,000)
Total Estimated Project Costs$3,301,600 (ARRA and STP-U)
The Garfield Street Bridge will undergo rehabilitation and improvement to address several structural deficiencies. The Main/Henderson By-pass project in Mt. Zion involves the construction of a new street around Mt. Zion High School which will alleviate considerable traffic congestion and significantly improve safety of pedestrians and motorists. The Twin Bridges project will allow the replacement of two deficient bridges on County Highway #20 just west of the Village of Forsyth. And the MacArthur Bridge project will include replacing the existing bridge which is just north of the junction of MacArthur and Ash Streets in Decatur.
DUATS also approved spending approximately $1,400,000 of the FTA allotment to purchase four 35 foot buses. The new buses will replace the last of DPTS’s fleet of 1993 buses. $106,500 of the FTA funds will be used by DPTS to purchase two wheelchair vans. These vans are used to provide door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to use the bus system.
The remaining $190,801 will be used for the following transit facility improvements:
- Repair and remodel the bus barn, including updating the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, remodeling the restrooms and offices, and sealing and painting the exterior walls;
- Repair and sealcoat the asphalt parking areas and driving lanes on the north side of the Transit Administration Building; and
- Install a water recycling system in the bus washer to reduce the amount of water used in washing buses.
These projects have been in the planning stages for many years, but had to be delayed because adequate funding was not available. It is anticipated that the road and bridge projects will go to letting between now and June, 2009 and the DPTS projects will be awarded within 60 days of the date that the grant is formally approved by FTA.
Also, DUATS approved three (3) transportation related projects using an accelerated schedule which required amending the FY 2009 – 2012 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Principal among those were projects proposed by District 7, IDOT, which included resurfacing a portion of Illinois Route 105, as well as pavement markings and installation of guardrail end section in numerous locations.
3.05 miles of Route 105 will be resurfaced between east of 26th Street to Bender Road on the east side of Decatur. Cost of this project is anticipated to be $3,030,00. Pavement markings in District 7 is estimated to cost $240,000. Replacement of Guardrail sections on a District wide basis will cost approximately $100,000.
“The working to secure the DUATS funding was a true partnership,” said City Manager Ryan McCrady. “All of the other local government agencies came together in the spirit of cooperation and in realization that in order to be successful we have to work for the betterment of the entire region, not just our own individual entities.”
It was announced recently that an additional $768,200 will be received as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, funding designated for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency.
The CDBG program is administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities primarily for persons of low-to-moderate income.
The City is still awaiting word from the federal government on allowable uses for the CDBG and Homelessness funding which is expected to be in addition to the $1.5 million in CDBG funding the city received this year as its annual allocation.
For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.