The City of Rock Island has been selected to receive a $22.7 million federal RAISE grant for the redesign and reconstruction of 11th Street between 31st Avenue and Blackhawk Road (Illinois 5).
“After many years, four grant submissions and with the collaboration of city staff and state and federal officials, we are proud and excited to be awarded a $22.7 million RAISE Grant,” Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms said in a news release on Friday, Jan. 10. “11th Street is the ‘Main Street’ of Rock Island’s west side, connecting neighborhoods, businesses and schools. Its reconstruction will create a family-friendly corridor for the community and economic development opportunities.”
The RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and provides funding for surface transportation projects meant to have significant local or regional impact. Projects can include roads, rail, transit and ports, with the goal of improving community connectivity, safety and economic development.
The mayor along with Rock Island Economic Development Director Tom Flaherty and Community Development Director Miles Brainard took two trips to Washington, D.C., in 2024 to meet in person with U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, both D-Illinois, and U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, to lobby for the RAISE grant and stress the importance of its impact on the city’s west end.
“This vital infrastructure investment will create good-paying jobs here in Rock Island and make our neighborhoods even better places to live and work,” Mr. Sorensen said in the release. “Improvements to 11th Street will make our communities safer and help local businesses thrive by improving access and traffic flow. I’m thankful for our local leaders’ years of tireless advocacy, and proud to help them bring these dollars home.”
The 11th Street (U.S. 67) Reconstruction and Improvement Project will upgrade an essential, two-mile stretch of 11th Street.
The project will:
- Provide American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks throughout the corridor, improving access and equity.
- Add pedestrian connections between 11th and 9th streets, which is home to schools, community facilities and residences.
- Implement a “road diet” to improve safety and calm traffic. A three-lane configuration has proven to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic while maintaining traffic efficiency.
- Add a bi-directional center turn lane and other improvements to facilitate economic opportunity and private investment.
- Include green infrastructure and stormwater improvements to improve sustainability.
The total estimated cost of the project is $28.5 million, with $22.7 million from the RAISE grant; $2.5 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation; and $3.2 million from the City of Rock Island.
The funding and investment comes as Rock Island is working on a grant-supported West End Revitalization plan designed to build wealth, power and livability in the west end community. The planning effort was launched in 2022.
The city will add a bi-modal pedestrian path as well as fully ADA-compliant sidewalks. Pedestrian-level street lighting will create a more inviting environment for pedestrians and cyclists during the evening and nighttime. The project includes concrete pavement, curb and gutter and sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, retaining walls on the east side of 11th Street, sanitary sewer lining, highway lighting and traffic signal modifications and upgrades.
“Investments in rebuilding and modernizing Illinois’ infrastructure are critical to improving residents’ quality of life,” Mr. Durbin said. “These federal grants will allow communities across our state to make improvements that meet the demands of the 21st century. Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure our state has the federal resources to improve and expand Illinois’ infrastructure.”
