Normal Council OKs Uptown Underpass Plan, Approves Taxes and $32M Construction Contract After Heated Debate

The Normal Town Council voted to advance the long‑planned Uptown Underpass at Uptown Station, approving a package of linked measures that includes raising the hotel/motel tax from 6% to 8% and the food and beverage tax from 2.00% to 2.25% (with a 25‑year sunset), authorizing up to $12,000,000 in general‑obligation bonds for the town's local share, accepting a modified U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant agreement and awarding the construction contract to Millstone Webber LLC for $32,064,300.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and an extended council discussion that divided members and residents. Proponents, including labor representatives and several longtime residents, said the underpass will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and Amtrak users and act as a catalyst for development on roughly eight acres south of the station. Opponents and some business owners warned the town's local costs have ballooned and urged the council to pause and consider lower‑cost alternatives.

Why the council acted now

City Manager Pam Reese and staff told the council that design is complete and that construction bids came back higher than earlier estimates. Staff said value engineering reduced costs but that a funding gap remained. Reese told the council the project has roughly $25,000,000 in combined federal and state grant dollars if the town completes the local funding plan and starts construction on the timetable required by the grant. She and other staff cautioned that further delay risked bidders…