The City of Mattoon, in partnership with Mattoon Community Unit School District #2, has been awarded two Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Safe Routes to School infrastructure grants totaling $500,000 to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and walkability for students across the community. Each project received the program’s maximum infrastructure award of $250,000.
The projects represent a coordinated, phased effort by the City of Mattoon and Mattoon Community Unit School District #2 to improve safety and accessibility for students walking and biking to school. The projects were identified as priorities through the City’s 2025 Safety Action Plan and were shaped through parent surveys, stakeholder meetings, public input, and school collaboration.
The first grant will support improvements serving Mattoon High School, including sidewalk repairs and ADA-compliant ramps, pavement markings, upgraded signage, speed feedback signs, and crossing improvements. The second grant will support improvements around Mattoon Middle School and Williams Elementary School, including reconstruction of sidewalks, ADA-compliant crossings and ramps, drainage improvements, replacement of school crossing signage, and installation of radar speed limit signs to calm traffic.
“These awards are a major investment in the safety of our students and families,” said Rick Hall, Mayor of the City of Mattoon. “The City has worked closely with the school district, parents, and community stakeholders to identify the areas of greatest need, and we are grateful to IDOT for recognizing the importance of these projects. These improvements will help create safer, more accessible routes for students while supporting healthier and more active transportation options throughout our community.”
“We deeply appreciate the strong partnership between the City of Mattoon and the school district as we continue working together to support our students and families,” reflected Tim Condron, Superintendent of Mattoon Community Unit School District #2. “This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to improving connectivity, accessibility, and overall student safety. We are thankful to the City for their leadership and cooperation throughout the planning process and excited to see these important improvements move forward.”
The City anticipates completing final design and engineering in fall 2026, with both projects bid through IDOT and construction beginning immediately following the conclusion of the 2026–2027 school year. The City expects work to be substantially completed prior to the start of the 2027–2028 school year.
The Safe Routes to School Program is a federally funded initiative administered by IDOT that supports projects and programs making it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school.
For more information, please contact:
City of Mattoon
Dr. Darci Cather
Grant Writer
(217) 258-7943