Once an industrial city, Joliet has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with a dynamic, diversified economy and a vision to achieve a long, sustainable future. A major initiative that is being implemented for the future is the design and construction of the Joliet Regional Multi-Modal Transportation Center.
In October, the city announced it received a $32 million grant from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program. The $42 million project also includes $7.5 million in funding from the city of Joliet and $2.2 million from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
Joliet's new transportation center will be the key component to the city of Joliet's "Central Area Plan and Implementation Strategy" for the redevelopment of Downtown Joliet. The center is designed to serve local, regional, interstate, state and national needs. The proposed center will relocate 8 land-based transportation modes to one central facility, adjacent to Joliet Union Station with direct easy access to Interstate 80.
Sustainability will be a key project directive- therefore the project will involve the construction of a new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified transportation center with elevated passenger platforms, busy bays and turn-around, associated supportive uses, and significant parking. The facility will be easily accessible by autos, taxis, bicycles and pedestrians. The project will create construction jobs and help business as well as result in an enhanced gateway to downtown Joliet.
The city of Joliet and Will County are working together to develop an exciting and realizable plan focused on developing a successful economic and financial strategy for downtown Joliet.
The center will anchor a mixed-use transit-oriented development project that would include the adaptive reuse of the existing National Register Historic Joliet Union Station for retail, restaurant and multi-purpose event space. Adjacent properties offer additional public/private and private opportunities to develop associated retails, residential, commercial, office and structured parking components that would serve to connect the Civic District, Sports District and Downtown Core.
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