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U.S. DOT withdraws $675,000 BUILD grant for Route 66 trail segments; county officials call it a setback
Summary
McLean County learned this week that the U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn a previously awarded $675,000 BUILD grant intended to fund engineering and design for Route 66 trail segments connecting Towanda, Lexington and Chenoa, a development county leaders described as a serious setback.
McLean County officials said this week the U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn a $675,000 BUILD grant awarded last year for engineering and design work on Route 66 trail segments between Towanda, Lexington and Chenoa. County Member Leah Klein told the board on Sept. 11 the grant withdrawal is a “serious setback” for a corridor the county has pursued for more than two decades.
Klein said the trail is intended to improve safety, support economic development and enhance quality of life. She noted that between 2018 and February 2023, six crashes involving bicyclists or pedestrians occurred within a half mile of the proposed trail corridor, including a fatal bicyclist crash near Towanda last year. Klein urged state and federal legislators to work with the county to identify alternative funding sources and said the trail project remains a local priority.
Why it matters: The trail has been supported at multiple levels of government and, according to Klein, would provide separated paths that can reduce collisions and bring tourism dollars to small towns bypassed by the interstate. The county will continue to seek funding alternatives after the federal withdrawal.
The county spokeswoman and Klein did not identify the specific reason the Department of Transportation withdrew the grant beyond a general statement that the project “no longer aligns with the Department's priorities.” County staff indicated they will pursue other state and federal funding avenues.
No formal action was recorded on Sept. 11 beyond the board member update; county staff and local legislators will be asked to explore replacement funding and next steps for project planning.
