Equity and Quality of Life Project

City of Urbana Equity and Quality of Life Project

The Equity and Quality of Life (EQL) Project is a capital program initiated by the City of Urbana to address small-scale public infrastructure needs, with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods. The goal is to improve safety and promote health for Urbana residents in tangible ways through a series of small projects. 

We wanted to know what would make a

big impact in your neighborhood.

You told us. We listened. 

We thank those that applied for project funding!

Implementation Projects in the Fiscal Year 2023 EQL Program 

• Sidewalks and street lights added to Silver Street between Fletcher Street and Philo Avenue - Total project cost $272,000.00
• Sidewalk added on Philo Road between Washington Street and Fairlawn Drive - Total project cost $261,000.00
• Sidewalk added on one side of the street and street lights added on Fairlawn Drive between Anderson Street and Cottage Grove Avenue - Total project cost $365,000.00
• Sidewalks and street lights added to the 900-block of North Division Avenue - Total project cost $125,000.00
• A multi-use path added to Church Street west of Lincoln Avenue - Total project cost $95,000.00
• Street lights added to Michigan Avenue between James Cherry Drive and Kinch Street - Total project cost $146,000.00
• Sidewlaks added on one side of the street on Geraldine Avenue and Highland Drive - Total project cost $246,000.00
• Street lights added to 100-block of North Poplar Street - Total project cost $68,000.00
• Sidewalk added on one side of the street. Street lights added to the street on Hawthorne Street between Anderson Street and Fairlawn Drive - Total project cost $211,000.00

Total EQL Program cost: $1,946,00.00. 

Planning Projects in the Fiscal Year 2023 EQL Program

• Traffic calming speed study on Kerr Avenue between Broadway and Cunningham Avenues
• Traffic calming speed study on Anderson Street between Washington Street and Florida Avenue
• Traffic calming speed study on Crystal Lake Drive between Broadway and Cunningham Avenues
• Traffic calming speed study on North Broadway Avenue between University Avenue and Country Club Road
• Enhancement to pedestrian crossing with an evaluation on Mumford Drive and Philo Road

Purpose

The purpose of the Equity and Quality of Life Project is for community members, as well as City staff, to have proposed projects for consideration that were ranked using the rating system that is included in this attachment. No monetary awards will be made to community members. Rather, the City of Urbana is implementing these projects using either in-house resources or contracted services. The City values hearing from residents. The City also values what residents priorities are for small changes that can have a large impact on their community. The maximum target size for an individual project was $250,000, but the City reserved the right to exceed that maximum if circumstances warrant.

Items considered included: 

• Travel Safety
• Personal Safety
• ADA Compliance

NOTE: THE APPLICATION PORTION OF THIS PROCESS IS NOW CLOSED. THE CITY IS CURRENTLY IN BOTH AN IMPLEMENTATION STAGE AND A PLANNING PROJECT STAGE.