City presents updated transit center design; project likely to wait until 2026 for construction

City staff updated the DeKalb City Council on design and schedule details for a proposed transit center at the Dresser Road site, presenting a reduced design now estimated at about 18,200 square feet and describing site work that includes a bus wash, fueling facility, parking and a roundabout at Normal Road.

City Manager (unnamed) told council the project began with a larger concept that was reduced to fit budget parameters. Stantec prepared a design report through about 60% completion in December; the current plan compresses earlier designs and will result in multiple buildings: a main building with offices and work areas, a separate bus-wash building and an on-site fueling area. The manager said the bid package is being prepared and must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) because much of the funding will be federal through the state, and IDOT review “may take up to six months.” The manager said that, because of that review, ground-breaking is unlikely before spring 2026.

Mike Newington, identified in materials as the transit manager, was listed as staff contact for detailed questions. Alderman Smith stressed the importance of a chassis/bus wash to preserve vehicles’ undercarriages and lifespan, noting the vehicles are expensive: “I mean these vehicles are over... a million dollars I believe; let's just call it a million each,” and asked whether the design anticipates future upgrades such as electric charging infrastructure. The manager and staff confirmed there is room on the site and in the building layouts for expansion and for adding electrical infrastructure in future phases.

City Engineer Zach Gill described on-site stormwater work, including replacing an undersized or ruptured drainage tile and installing a larger dedicated line (engineer described upsizing from around an 8-inch tile to a 12-inch reinforced concrete pipe) and a detention/retention strategy to meet release-rate requirements and mitigate downstream impacts. Gill said the current landowner is amenable to granting an easement to allow the improved discharge route.

Alderman Bird asked whether the $20,781,000 figure shown in background materials “includes all of these street improvements as well, round(about)?” Staff said that figure includes those elements as an early estimate but emphasized bids may change and contingencies are included. The manager and staff noted that the project is “100% federally funded,” a point the council highlighted for public awareness.

Staff said they will continue refining plans and expect to submit pre-bid documents to IDOT in April if the schedule holds, and will return to the council with updates as the documents near completion.