Scott Preston

📣 Why I’m Voting NO on the Uptown Underpass

Tonight, I’ll be voting No on the Underpass, and call on my council colleagues to do the same. Here’s why:

1- High cost for local taxpayers. Cost is now $40M, with the Town’s share jumping from $2.9M to $14.9M - a $12M, $500% increase.

2- Requires 2 Tax Hikes. That $12M gap means $12M of new debt for your town, and long term increases to both Food & Beverage and Hotel-Motel Taxes to pay it off. Especially in this time when so many people continue to battle this affordability crisis (only exacerbated by a federal govt shutdown), raising taxes for this is the WRONG answer.

3- What’s the Need? This project is entirely optional. There’s nothing requiring the Town to build any pedestrian rail crossing at Uptown Station. We already have 2 at-grade crossings within a block, and the Town’s own estimate shows the underpass would save Amtrak riders just 46 SECONDS in travel time 😑. Regarding safety, there have been 2 pedestrian-train injuries at this location in the last 20 years (2023 and 2005). Safety matters, but this is not a high-incident site.

4- Quality of life. Something often missed in this discussion, the current plaza between Uptown Station and CDM is great - it’s open, inviting, and more usable. It’s not a problem we’re trying to fix, it’s an asset we’d be destroying. Nothing stopping the Town from still creating a new vibrant, unique park space on the south side bordering tracks. Could add in public art, a stage for events, natural playground, place for food trucks, whatever. Plenty of options. As I see it, the underpass actually limits future placemaking and reduces usable community gathering space there.

5- Economic development. There’s no hard data to support claims the underpass will be the catalyst for new development in Uptown South. Developers I’ve spoken with say it’s a “nice to have,” but not a deciding factor in whether they invest south of the tracks. If a developer or employer sees the underpass as their difference-maker to building there, I’d welcome their public announcement …seriously. Until then, $12M could have much more impact on economic development if not spent to create THE UNDERPASS TO NOWHERE.

6- Rushed and risky. Finally, federal grant rules require substantial completion by Sept. 2027 (no exceptions), forcing a very tight timeline as-is, which is risky and a major reason for the project cost exploding.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading 👊. Normal should kill this project. At the very least, let’s pause, reassess with some common sense this time, and provide more open public conversation before committing the people of Normal to a $40M project with 2 tax hikes and unclear need / benefit.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback. 🇺🇸

Great service NPD!

🚓💙 One crash, one creative solution, and two officers who made Normal IL feel like home!!

Yesterday, Officers Larimore and Evans responded to assist some out-of-state travelers whose road trip took an unexpected detour — right into a vehicle accident that left their car severely damaged. Thankfully, everyone was okay, but their plans? Not so much.

With no rental cars available late in the evening and their cargo stranded roadside, our officers did what any good hosts would do: they got creative.

Enter the Normal Fire Department, who showed they’re not just lifesavers — they’re expert cargo handlers too. Together, they helped load the travelers’ belongings onto the back of a squad car (yep, you read that right), and Officers Larimore and Evans personally gave the group a lift to a local hotel.

Because in Normal, we don’t just protect and serve — we haul luggage, give rides, and do it all with a smile.

Wishing our new friends safe travels from here on out — and we hope your brief stop in Normal left a lasting impression! 🚔

Normal Fire Department (Normal, IL)

Thankful for all who gave their all. Happy Memorial Day