By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Town staff in Normal is recommending the town council approve an underpass at the Uptown Station railroad crossing.

The town council will consider a plan on Monday night to have a consultant do design work and further study for that option. The crossing would also have to undergo an environmental study before the project could be approved.

Town staff is following the recommendation from New York-based WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, a consulting firm which recommended the underpass from among multiple options. The town had originally planned an overpass at the crossing, which would have been about $4 million cheaper.

The consultant considered public feedback which came from written comments and those that came from an open house in April.

“Out of the 41 public comments received, 29 strongly supported the underpass alterative recommended in the report,” Public Works Director Wayne Aldrich said in a report to the town council. “Five comments received were against the recommend underpass option due to concerns about the cost. Three comments expressed support for an overpass alternative. The remaining comments, or questions, did not explicitly state a preferred alternative.”

Mayor Chris Koos has said the project won’t happen unless the town can secure state or federal funding for the project.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].