Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS)

Description: The City of Carbondale was awarded $18.3 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program to construct the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS). The grant funds will be used to demolish the existing Amtrak station and design and build the new transportation center in downtown Carbondale. 

View more detailed information on the  /419 Southern Illinois Multimodal Station

Anticipated Construction Start Date: Summer 2023

Anticipated Construction Completion Date: Fall 2024 

Location: Downtown Carbondale on the east side of South Illinois Avenue

Estimated Project Cost: $26,218,917 

Funding Source: $18,321,808 from BUILD Grant, $2,800,000 from IDOT Transit Improvement Program; the City will fund the remaining estimated $5,097,109

Contractor: Fager-McGee Construction Inc 

Project Impact: TBD

Project Updates:

09/18/2023 - Footings are complete. Fifty percent of the foundation walls are complete.

06/16/2023 - Ceremonial groundbreaking was held. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, State Senator Dale Fowler, Illinois State Representative Paul Jacobs, and IDOT Secretary of Transportation Omer Osman were in attendance.

06/01/2023 - The insulation process for the geothermal wells located south of the current Amtrak station was initiated.

05/17/2023 - Following the completion of the demolition, efforts commenced to eliminate the unstable soil present at the construction site.

04/19/2023 - Demolition has begun for SIMMS. We are currently in the process of finalizing the interior colors.

02/16/2023 - The City of Carbondale advertised the bid for SIMMS on November 12, 2022, and accepted and opened bids on January 5, 2023. The Council approved and awarded the contract to Fager-McGee Construction on February 14, 2023, for $23,072,000.

08/15/2022 - Submitted construction documents to Amtrak, FTA, and IDOT  for 100% review.  

06/15/2022 - Submitted construction documents to Amtrak for 90% review. 

03/01/2022 - Submitted construction documents to Amtrak for 60% review. 

11/24/2021 - Submitted construction documents to Amtrak for 30% review.  

07/15/2021 - A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 29, 2021, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. The meeting will allow the public to engage with consultants and offer feedback regarding the final design of the downtown transportation center. 

04/29/2021 - The City of Carbondale selected Design Works and Hmb Architects LLC to design the new downtown transportation center. The design process will include opportunities for the public to engage with the consultants and offer feedback regarding the final design. The City expects a preliminary design for review by the City Council in late 2021. 

12/22/2020 - IDOT announced plans to contribute an additional $300,000 to the construction project, raising their contribution to $2.8 million. 

10/21/2020 – MBE plan approved.

07/01/2020 – Federal Transit Administration Agreement approved.

06/08/2020 – NEPA categorical exclusion granted.

11/06/2019 – The City of Carbondale awarded a BUILD grant.