The Peoria City Council has unanimously approved a significant motion to push forward a downtown pedestrian bridge project, a vision that's been on the table for over 30 years. According to a release by the City of Peoria, the council's nod came on September 17, greenlighting staff to seek a planning grant reaching up to $2 million. This funding is aimed at crafting a Design Concept Report (DCR) for the proposed overpass stretching over Grand Avenue and is backed by a commitment from the council to earmark up to $450,000 from the FY2026 CIP Budget to meet the grant's 20% match requirement.
The necessity of the bridge stems from the urgent need to bolster safety for students from Peoria High School and Cheyenne Elementary School, who routinely navigate the bustling six-lane Grand Avenue and nearby railroad tracks. The avenue, noted for its high-speed traffic, has witnessed 87 crashes between 2021 and 2023, inclusive of two fatalities, “The city of Peoria is committed to the safety and accessibility of the Grand Avenue corridor for our community,” Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Crawford, representing the Acacia District, where the bridge would stand, emphasized in the statement from the city.
An initial $90,000 MAG Design Assistance Grant was awarded to Peoria in 2020, enabling a feasibility study that later pinpointed the 87th Avenue alignment as the choicest location for the overpass. With the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant potentially pouring $2 million into the DCR, the groundwork for planning, permitting, and designing the bridge would solidify, pending a 20% funding match from the city.
Future stages of the grand pedestrian bridge plan hinge on community consultation, with the City, prepared to contract a consultant to gather further local insights before chasing additional grants to construct the bridge. Estimated to stand at over $20 million in total cost, the bridge is part of a broader agenda to revitalize downtown Peoria, ensuring the fabric of the community is interwoven with pathways that guarantee safe travel, especially for its youth.
The preliminary timeline for the project has been charted out, aiming for a grant submission by September 30, 2024, and wrapping up the project by December 31, 2026. The Department of Transportation is scheduled to announce grant awardees by March 30, 2025, with subsequent steps including the City Council's budget approval, ADOT agreement endorsement, project initiation, and meeting the grant competition deadline by September 30, 2027.
