About the Southwest Connector PEL Study
The following timeline highlights key milestones in the ongoing effort to improve highway infrastructure between Carbondale and the St. Louis metropolitan area through the development of the Southwest Connector corridor.
Background
Discussion began in the 1960's about the need for improved highway infrastructure between Carbondale and the St. Louis metropolitan area to improve safety and support economic development resulting in the 1967 Southern Illinois Corridor Study.
- In 2007, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) completed a preliminary engineering study for expanding Illinois 13/127 to four lanes from Murphysboro to Pinckneyville in Jackson and Perry counties.
- In 2019, the Southwest Connector Task Force issued a 125-page report highlighting the safety and economic development needs and national security concerns that would be addressed by improving the highway infrastructure in the region.
- In 2023, Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin secures $3 million in federal funding to support development of the Southwest Connector.
- In 2025, IDOT launches a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study to identify potential projects in the Southwest Connector corridor and complete a re-evaluation of the 2007 preliminary engineering study of Illinois 13/127 between Murphysboro and Pinckneyville.
Study Area Map
PEL Study Timeline
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What is a PEL Study?
PEL is a collaborative approach to transportation decision-making that considers the benefits and impacts of proposed transportation system improvements to the environment, community, and economy during the early transportation planning process. The primary goal of a PEL Study is to gather information early in planning to inform the environmental review process and meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). IDOT intends to adopt planning products and recommendations made as part of the PEL Study into future projects.
- Integrative approach considers environment, community, and economy
- Gathers input early to inform transportation project development
- Uses collaborative environment approach to transportation decision-making
Background
- Helps identify future project selections
- Accelerates project development and successful delivery
- Supports economic and community development
- Finds opportunities to avoid or minimize environmental impacts
- Encourages early, meaningful community and stakeholder engagement to listen, understand issues, and reduce risk and concerns
Outcomes of a PEL Study
- Purpose and Need
- Reasonable Alternatives
- Preliminary impacts assessment
- Engagement with public, stakeholders, and resource agencies
- FHWA and IDOT concurrence
- Near-term and long-term projects
Steps in the PEL Process
- Identify Transportation Needs
- Develop Purpose & Need
- Develop Screening Criteria
- Develop & Screen Alternatives
- Identify Reasonable Alternatives
- Draft PEL Report
Public Involvement PEL Study Transition to NEPA
A PEL study can be transitioned into a NEPA review process, allowing for a more efficient and streamlined project development. By integrating environmental considerations early in the planning phase through PEL, IDOT can leverage the work done in the PEL study to inform and potentially shorten the subsequent NEPA process.
A PEL study can be used to streamline the NEPA process by:
- Providing a foundation for NEPA: The information gathered and decisions made during the PEL study, such as the purpose and need, range of alternatives, and preliminary environmental analysis, can be carried over into the NEPA documentation.
- Reducing duplication of effort: By addressing environmental considerations early in the planning phase, IDOT and partner agencies can avoid revisiting the same issues during the NEPA process, saving time and resources.
- Facilitating informed decision-making: The data and analysis from the PEL study can be used to develop a more robust purpose and need statement, evaluate alternatives, and identify potential mitigation measures for the NEPA review.
- Ensuring public involvement: The PEL study involves extensive public engagement, which can be leveraged during the NEPA process to build consensus and address community concerns.
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PEL Study
Planning & Alternatives Identification -
Phase I
NEPA & Preliminary Design -
Phase II
Detailed Design & Permitting -
Phase III
ROW & Construction
Existing Conditions
The study's existing conditions phase assesses current transportation, environmental, and community conditions to inform future project development. It involves gathering data on existing infrastructure, transportation patterns, environmental resources, and potential impacts, as well as engaging with the public and stakeholders to understand needs and concerns. This phase helps define the study's purpose and need and lays the groundwork for developing and evaluating potential solutions.
- Population trends have been generally flat, with a slight decline in three of the four Study Area counties between 2020 and 2023
- In total, population for the Study Area counties declined approximately 0.09% between 2020 and 2023
- State of Illinois' population declined approximately 0.33% between 2020 and 2023.
| County | Monroe County | Randolph County | Perry County | Jackson County | Study Area Counties (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Census | 34,962 | 30,163 | 20,945 | 52,974 | 139,044 |
| 2023 American Community Survey | 34,969 | 30,142 | 20,812 | 52,706 | 138,627 |
| Growth / (Decline) | (0.09%) | 0.03% | (0.05%) | (0.16%) | (0.09%) |
- Anticipated population growth
- Population is projected to increase in three of four Study Area counties by 2035.
- Total population for the Study Area counties is projected to grow by 8.28% by 2035.
| Projections | Monroe County | Randolph County | Perry County | Jackson County | Study Area Counties (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2035 | 38,219 | 29,167 | 21,852 | 61,319 | 150,557 |
| Growth / (Decline) | 9.32% | (3.30%) | 4.33% | 15.75% | 8.28% |
- Ten-year projected employment change between 2022 and 2032 is approximately 0.20%.
- Population within Study Area Counties that are 65 or Older: 18.44%
- Income in the past 12 months below poverty: 10.99%
- 70 miles from south of Waterloo to north of Murphysboro along IL 3, IL 154, IL 127, and IL 13/127
- Two-lane, undivided highway
- Speed limits are generally 55 miles per hour, and reduce to 25-45 miles per hour in local towns
- National Highway System is made up of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility and includes:
- IL 3 from Waterloo to Red Bud
- IL 13/127 from Pinckneyville to north of Murphysboro
- Average Daily Traffic ranges from 2,100 to 9,650
- Roadway Geometrics
- Sharp curves with limited chevrons and signs
- Driveways and side streets on skewed alignments with main route
- Railroad crossings
- Narrow viaducts
- High speed sections with curb
- Slow moving farm equipment
- Pavement condition ratings (2022)
- Waterloo to Red Bud: Excellent
- Red Bud to Sparta: Poor
- Sparta to Randolph County Line: Good
- Randolph County Line to Pinckneyville: Fair
- Pinckneyville to Murphysboro: Excellent
- 7 of 61 structures within the Study Corridor have sufficiency ratings that warrant a review for rehabilitation or replacement.
- Crashes 2017-2024
- 1,743 total crashes
- Fatal crashes: 1%
- Injury crashes, ranging from reported minor to severe or incapacitating injuries: 20.5% of crashes
- Top 5 Injury Crash Types
- Fixed Object: 29.7%
- Front to Rear: 24.6%
- Angle: 20.1%
- Turning: 15.0%
- Overturned: 10.6%
Crashes are classified by severity of injuries:
- K: Fatality
- A: Incapacitating injury, prevents the person from walking, driving, or continuing usual activities
- B: Non-incapacitating injury, minor injury that is visible but not incapacitating
- C: Possible injury, subjective complaints of injury that are not evident
- O: No injury
Built Environment
To view the 16 high resolution maps of the overall area, please download the PDF here.
To view the 3 high resolution maps of the cities, please download the PDF here.
Natural Resources
The maps below indicate the locations of resources in the built and natural environment identified in the study area. Resource types include:
To view the 16 high resolution maps of the overall area, please download the PDF here.
To view the 3 high resolution maps of the cities, please download the PDF here.
- Natural areas and State Parks
- Community Resources
- Sensitive species habitat
- Wetlands and waterways
- Historic Properties
Purpose and Need
The Purpose and Need (P&N) statement explains why IDOT is undertaking the study and what its objectives are. The “Purpose” is a broad statement of the primary intended transportation result (e.g., improve mobility, improve safety) and other related objectives to be achieved by a proposed transportation improvement. The “Need” identifies transportation deficiencies or problems (e.g., congestion, safety, deteriorating physical condition of pavement or bridges, etc.) that need to be addressed.
- Supports decision-making process for future improvements
- Informs the environmental review process
- Used in the alternative development and screening process
Purpose
The purpose of the project is to address existing deficiencies along IL 3, IL 154, and IL 13/127 to improve safety, mobility, travel time reliability, and access to essential services; expand modal interrelationships; and support economic development initiatives in the 70-mile corridor connecting Southern Illinois communities.
Need
The project is needed to address the following issues:
- Increased number of crashes in 2017-2024 compared to 2012-2019;
- Roadway deficiencies, including sharp curves, narrow lanes, and areas without shoulders, turn lanes, and passing lanes;
- Traffic bottlenecks related to truck traffic, farm equipment, and school buses;
- Congestion and operational inefficiencies at intersections and through towns;
- Poor travel time and reliability between regional destinations, including healthcare, jobs, education, recreation areas, and services;
- Gaps in the regional transportation system;
- Limited pedestrian and bicycle facilities and transit opportunities; and
- Lack of infrastructure that promotes regional growth, including business development, freight travel, tourism, and housing.
Alternatives Toolbox
The alternatives toolbox includes transportation concepts and design elements that may be considered when developing alternatives to address the transportation problems in the study area which will then be evaluated during the alternatives screening process.
Potential Roadway improvements
Potential Roadway improvements
- Four-lane roadway;
- Limited access bypass;
- Wider shoulders; and/or
- Passing lanes
Safety Improvements
Safety Improvements
- Divided highway with median;
- Median barrier;
- Reconstructing vertical and horizontal curves;
- Redesigning select intersections;
- Constructing dedicated turn lanes at key intersections; and/or
- Center and shoulder rumble strips
Intersection Improvements
Intersection Improvements
- Focus on enhancing safety and traffic flow
- Optimizing signal timing
- Improving sight distance
- Implementing advanced technologies to create smart intersections
- Reduced conflict intersections
- Realigning sideroads to improve intersection angles
- Widening radii for freight/farm equipment movements
Bicycle and Pedestrian facilities or connections
Bicycle and Pedestrian facilities or connections
- Sidewalks
- Shared-use paths
- Bike lanes
- Crosswalks and pedestrian signals
- Curb ramps
- Wayfinding and signage
Next Steps
The next steps for the study in the remaining months of 2025 include developing initial alternatives and screening criteria, refining the Purpose and Need statement, and ongoing public and stake holder engagement. Near-term next steps are highlighted below.
- Identify Reasonable Alternatives to present for public and stakeholder input
- Complete re-evaluation of 2007 preliminary engineering study for Illinois 13/127 from Murphysboro to Pinckneyville
- Click here for more information on the Illinois 13/127 Murphysboro to Pinckneyville improvements.
Your Feedback
The virtual public meeting also launches the first public comment period for the PEL Study from July 28 through August 18, 2025. Share your feedback by taking our online survey, filling out the comment form, sending us an email, or reaching out by mail. After the public comment period, the PEL Study materials will remain on the website for the duration of the study. IDOT invites the public and all stakeholders to continue to share input throughout the study.
We want to hear from you! - Take our survey
Mail Us
Illinois Department of Transportation, District 9
Attn: Southwest Connector PEL Study
2801 Murphysboro Road
Carbondale, IL 62901
