MCORE Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the MCORE project area?
The project study area includes five individual street corridors located in the Cities of Champaign and Urbana. The project limits are defined as listed below:
Project 1 - Green Street - University District
Project 2 - Green Street - Champaign
Project 3 - White Street
Project 4 - Wright Street
Project 5 - Green Street - Urbana
Project 1 - Green Street - University District
Project 2 - Green Street - Champaign
Project 3 - White Street
Project 4 - Wright Street
Project 5 - Green Street - Urbana
What are the MCORE goals and objectives?
The goal of the MCORE project is to construct complete street corridors connecting the Cities of Champaign and Urbana to the University of Illinois. The MCORE project will improve transit travel between the cities and the campus, create new economic opportunities in the surrounding commercial areas, and improve local quality of life. The project includes a multimodal network of roads, on-street bike lanes, shared lane markings, bus-only lanes, and other transit services that will enhance mobility for residents and visitors, particularly non-drivers, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and economically disadvantaged populations.
What does TIGER VI or MCORE stand for?
TIGER is an acronym for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, which is a federal grant program. This project is part of the sixth cycle of federally funded TIGER projects, hence TIGER VI.
MCORE stands for Multimodal Corridor Enhancement is an acronym that the local agencies have adopted to describe the project.
MCORE stands for Multimodal Corridor Enhancement is an acronym that the local agencies have adopted to describe the project.
What are some of the potential benefits of the project?
Each project corridor will undergo either full reconstruction or major rehabilitation to rebuild the streets into multi-modal complete street corridors to accommodate all modes of travel (bus, pedestrian, bike, and vehicle). In addition to the pavement improvements, other project benefits will be improved bus capacity and frequency on these key bus routes; improved sidewalks, new street lighting, and addition of on-street bicycle lanes.
What are the funds for this project coming from?
The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, with the support of the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and the University of Illinois, applied for and received a $15.7 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant (TIGER) for the construction of the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Projects (MCORE) within the University District.
The total cost for the Project is estimated at $34.8 million which includes the $15.7 million grant plus local matching funds estimated at $19.1 million.
The total cost for the Project is estimated at $34.8 million which includes the $15.7 million grant plus local matching funds estimated at $19.1 million.
Who is leading the project?
The City of Champaign will serve as Lead Agency for the grant administration and will be responsible for managing and contracting for all services for all five projects. The City of Urbana, University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District will be involved within the areas of jurisdiction.
A consultant team led by Clark Dietz is developing the MCORE project designs. View the entire design team.
A consultant team led by Clark Dietz is developing the MCORE project designs. View the entire design team.
How will the community and stakeholders take part in the process?
Stakeholder involvement for the MCORE Project will be an ongoing process from project initiation through completion. Various public meetings and events will be held throughout the project development process to provide outreach opportunities to all stakeholders.
We encourage everyone to sign up for regular updates and follow the progress on social media.
We encourage everyone to sign up for regular updates and follow the progress on social media.
Are properties going to be impacted?
There is no denying that adjacent properties will be impacted by this project. This is a complicated and large scale project that will have long lasting positive impacts in the Champaign-Urbana area. That being said, coordination and public involvement will be critical on this project. The MCORE agencies and MCORE design team will make every effort to mitigate and minimize the project’s impact to property owners, businesses, residents, and the traveling public. Project plans will be made in conjunction with the impacted parties and we ask for your participation and patience in the project to ensure the smoothest possible construction.
What is the project timeline?
Preliminary Design for all five MCORE projects is expected to be completed by September 2015. The Final Design for MCORE projects 1, 2 and 3 will completed by June 2016. IDOT bid letting occurred in July 2016, however bids were rejected due to being over cost estimates. Bids were re-let in November 2016. A bid was accepted in January 2017. Construction will begin in March 2017.
Final Design for MCORE projects 4 and 5 will commence in 2016 and will be completed by the end of 2017. The construction of these projects is anticipated to start in 2018.
Learn more about the project schedule.
Final Design for MCORE projects 4 and 5 will commence in 2016 and will be completed by the end of 2017. The construction of these projects is anticipated to start in 2018.
Learn more about the project schedule.
Who can I contact about this project?
You can direct questions and comments to us via the "Contact“ page.
Written correspondence can be mailed directly to:
MCORE Project
City of Champaign, Department of Public Works
702 Edgebrook Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
Attn: Dave Clark P.E., City Engineer
Written correspondence can be mailed directly to:
MCORE Project
City of Champaign, Department of Public Works
702 Edgebrook Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
Attn: Dave Clark P.E., City Engineer
