The Galesburg city council on Tuesday approved a resolution to support a new grant application aimed at advancing improvements near the city’s Amtrak station, including the South Street rail underpass.
The resolution also authorized the city to commit $365,000 to the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program grant, which would be used for the planning phase of improvements.
In all, the planning study would cost $3.65 million, with 80% covered by the grant and the remainder split between the city and BNSF Railway. It would pay for conceptual design, environmental analysis, and gathering input from the public.
“This is just the planning side and obviously a core component is not only the planning but also the public engagement piece,” said City Manager Eric Hanson.
Improvements to be studied include closing the Mulberry Street rail crossing and reconstructing the South Street underpass so there is no longer a height restriction. The study will also evaluate changes that would improve safety in the area, including straightening the underpass so it aligns with South Street and making changes to the intersection of South and Seminary streets.
Hanson said the city is expanding the scope of its application after narrowly missing out on a federal BUILD grant last year. But the previous grant application did not cover preliminary engineering or environmental analysis. So while this application increases costs for the planning phase, Hanson said integrating those elements now will reduce costs in the future.
The city is applying for the federal-state grant as other development projects are on the horizon in that area of downtown. The National Railroad Hall of Hame will be constructed near the Amtrak station.
In addition, the city purchased and is demolishing a property along South Street near the underpass last year with the goal of redevelopment.
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