Normal, Ill. – Oct. 6, 2026 – Members of Normal Town Council and the Illinois State University (ISU) community heard the final plan of the Pedestrian & Roadway Campus Safety Initiative at Monday’s Council meeting.
The Pedestrian & Roadway Campus Safety Initiative (PRCSI) launched in 2025 through a partnership between the Town and ISU to enhance transportation safety for all who live, work and travel through the Illinois State campus and Uptown Normal.
The initiative culminated in a final plan identifying solutions and creating a roadmap for improving pedestrian and roadway safety throughout campus and the Uptown Normal area.
“Completing the plan marks an important milestone, but the real work begins now,” says Town of Normal Director of Engineering & Public Works Ryan Otto. “We have a roadmap shaped by data and experience to help guide the work ahead.”
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Adam McCrary, director of Environmental Health and Safety at Illinois State, agrees. “The plan provides a strong foundation for continued partnership between the Town and ISU to make travel through campus and Uptown Normal safer for everyone. This is a significant step forward, but this isn’t the finish line.”
About the study
The PRCSI consisted of three key phases occurring over 18 months. In Phase 1, the project team analyzed and collected data to understand travel patterns and talked to community members about safety concerns. Findings informed Phase 2, in which seven “quick-build” projects were installed at high-risk locations to test out new street designs using temporary, low-cost materials. A final plan was developed in Phase 3, driven by both data and more than 2,400 community interactions over the course of the project.
What’s in the plan?
The final plan includes short- to long-term recommendations to create long-lasting improvements to pedestrian and roadway safety, including:
- Spot opportunities: guidance on the types of bicycle, pedestrian and roadway improvements possible at certain blocks or intersections
- Safety location recommendations: infrastructure safety solutions at ten high-priority intersections
- Key bike network improvements around campus and Uptown Normal
- Policy, education and programming strategies: steps to embed safety into decision-making and build a culture of shared accountability
The plan also outlines key steps and resources required to implement recommendations, including funding opportunities, partnerships and incorporating safety improvements into day-to-day operations and roadway projects that are already programmed.
Next steps
With the final plan in hand, Illinois State and the Town of Normal will continue working together to bring recommendations to life. Their next moves are already underway, including:
- Being awarded 2025 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding for quick-build projects and corridor studies
- Applying for 2026 federal SS4A implementation funding
- Installing pedestrian safety improvements on Willow Street at Normal Avenue and the Constitution Trail
