Grand St. / MSU Improvement Plan 2009 

The linked Master Plan of the Grand St. corridor was created by the City of Springfield in conjunction with MSU.  It accomplishes much of what was committed to in the 1996 vision plan.  Unfortunately, some elements are missing is the western buffer area adjacent to Dollison Ave. Hopefully, we can make that reappear! Also the time frame for completion has been greatly altered from the original commitment to the neighborhood. 

The initial phase of the Grand - National intersection construction was completed mid-fall 2009.  A consultant has been recently hired, and design work has begun on the west end (that is the part included in the neighborhood plan) of the project.  However, the actual construction date is dependent on the 1/4 cent sales tax for capital improvement to be reapproved by the citizens of the city.  The Phelps Neighborhood Association (PNA) was told it would be part of that 2010-2013 capital improvement proposal.  Again,  this is all based on what the Phelps Neighborhood Association has been told in recent meetings - not in writing as of yet.  When completed a new entrance will be provided to MSU parking lots from Grand.  It is the understanding of the PNA that access to the MSU parking lots into from the neighborhood will be closed. (See Plan) Eliminating backdoor traffic through the neighborhood.  Although, the city and university have made other commitments to the neighborhood in regards to the plan and changed their minds!! So until we have everything in final written documents, with timelines, and that have been approved by the citizens of the Springfield nothing is final!!  Even then, until the drives have been removed, do we the neighbors have total trust that they will be removed.