Following Sorensen’s Advocacy, McLean County Receives Funding to Extend Historic Route 66 Trail

PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing $675,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding for McLean County to plan and design the final nine miles of the Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Trail in the northern part of the county. Sorensen advocated for McLean County to receive the funding earlier this year. 

“I am thrilled to announce that McLean County has been awarded this investment to extend the historic Route 66 bike trail,” said Sorensen. “And I’m excited that families in McLean County will have safe opportunities to move around, get active, and explore the wonderful community. I was proud to champion this project and can't wait to see how it will benefit our neighbors in Central Illinois.”  

“With over 6 miles previously announced for construction in 2025, McLean County will already have the longest (38 mile) continuous active transportation infrastructure between St. Louis and Chicago. The design of the remaining 9 miles provided for with this RAISE 24 funding is a critical step towards completing the 47-mile trail in McLean County and makes the completion of an active transportation corridor between the two largest metropolitan areas in the Midwest a very real possibility,” said Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator for McLean County. 

The funding was awarded as part of DOT’s 2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, which invests in infrastructure projects across the United States. The investment for McLean County will be used to plan and design the final three segments of the 38-mile Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Trail. The extension spans nine miles in northern McLean County, between Lexington, Illinois, to the Livingston County line near Chenoa, Illinois. 

This project is part of 148 projects around the United States selected under the RAISE grant program for 2024. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

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