Central Illinois Congressmen award McLean County with $100K grant to help improve Veterans Parkway

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (middle) and Rep. Rodney Davis (right). (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Two central Illinois congressmen announced a $100,000 grant for the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.

Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) and Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) said the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help the development of a Veterans Parkway Corridor Plan.

“This is an important step being undertaken by the McLean County Regional Planning Commission to develop a safer Veterans Parkway in Bloomington-Normal,” said Rep. Davis.

According to a news release, the project will fund ways to identify potential safety improvements, including curbside management and enhanced pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities.

“This important funding will help identify improvements and engage local community members to enhance the transportation system,” added Rep. LaHood. “In Congress, I will continue to work with Congressman Davis to support McLean County.”

The funding is a portion of the federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant that appropriated $1 billion for the program.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…