Normal and Illinois State plan seven "quick-build" pilot projects after safety review finds elevated pedestrian crash rates

Town of Normal staff and Illinois State University officials presented an update on the Pedestrian Roadway Campus Safety Initiative, telling the council they have completed Phase 1—analysis of existing conditions and an initial public engagement—and plan to install about seven temporary "quick-build" pilot safety projects the week after Labor Day.

Ryan Otto, public works and engineering director for the Town of Normal, said the project is funded in part by a state planning and research grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) awarded in 2023 and that the full project budget is $450,000. "We're using data and innovative traffic solutions to advance pedestrian safety and work towards implementing safety solutions for the entire campus area," Otto said.

Otto said data and public feedback show elevated crash rates for vulnerable users in the campus area: pedestrian and bicycle crashes account for a higher crash-rate percentage in the campus study area (about 6%) compared with McLean County and statewide averages (about 2%). He said 87 percent of serious or fatal crashes occur at intersections, 25 percent of serious crashes occur on Main Street, and "over 50 percent of the serious injury crashes in this area happen on College Avenue." Otto also described campus mobility: roughly 14,000 off-campus students enter ISU while there are about 2,000 parking spots on campus, meaning many trips begin or end on foot.

Public engagement included more than 1,500 interactions and more than 2,700 map comments; respondents frequently flagged the College–School–Mulberry intersection and the University Street corridor as problem locations. Otto said the quick-build pilots will test low-cost, often temporary installations—painted crossings, bump-outs, bollards, hardened centerlines and slip-lane closures—to slow turning speeds and make crossings more visible. "These are all low cost intended to be temporary, but that doesn't mean we can't make them permanent in another way or keep them in place for a little bit longer," Otto said. The team plans to monitor each installation and adjust timing or design as needed; some installations may last a day, others a semester.

Council members asked questions about specific treatments and scope. Councilor Preston asked Otto to explain a proposed slip-lane closure at the College–School–Mulberry location; Otto said closing the slip lane forces motorists to make slower, tighter turns, reducing high-speed right turns that increase crash risk. Otto also confirmed the project team has been coordinating with IDOT on Main Street (US 51), which IDOT plans to rehabilitate; Otto said IDOT is considering enhanced pedestrian crossings as part of that project and that the town will pursue further conversations to include crossing improvements.

Councilor Lawrence asked about budgeting for the quick-builds; Otto said the pilot projects are included in the grant-funded project budget but did not provide a line-item breakout for the pilot portion. Councilors also raised concerns about winter maintenance for bump-outs and snowplows; Otto said the town consulted communities in colder climates and will design curb extensions to allow buses and other vehicles to pass.

The council also discussed micromobility. A town subject-matter expert, identified in the meeting as the staff lead on the issue, said state legislation includes an opt-in for e-scooters: municipalities must opt in to authorize their use. "In terms of e scooters, the state legislation has an opt-in provision. So e scooters aren't allowed anywhere in the community unless the municipality specifically allows their use. We haven't done so, and so officially, e scooters are illegal in the Town of Normal," the staff member said. Council members said clearer local guidance on e-bikes and e-scooters will be needed as the safety work continues.

No formal council vote on the initiative was recorded at the meeting; the presentation served as an informational update and preview of planned pilot installations beginning in September.