BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — More than $600,000 awarded for improvement projects in McLean County last year are no longer coming to central Illinois.
The $675,000 BUILD Raise Grant was originally awarded to McLean County in 2024, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn the funds, according to Cline who represents District 8 on the McLean County Board.
He spoke during Thursday’s county board meeting.
She said the Transportation Department told the county that the grant no longer aligned with its priorities.
Cathy Dreyer, one of the county’s county administrators, said the funds were supposed to be used for the preliminary engineering for the final nine miles of the Route 66 bike trail.
Cline said this is more than just an economic issue but also a safety issue.
“Between 2018 and 2023, six crashes involving bicyclists or pedestrians occurred within a half mile of this proposed trail corridor, including the tragic death of a bicyclist near Towanda last year,” Cline said. “These are not isolated events, and separated paths like this one are proven to save lives.
Dreyer said they will continue to apply for other grants to make up for the loss of the funding.
