DECATUR - Plans to improve the West Main Street corridor near Millikin University hit a bumpy road Tuesday with some members of the Decatur City Council.

"There are definitely some extravagances in here that are not reflective of the community," Councilman Shad Edwards said.

The city last year completed a $2.7 million project to improve the West Main Street corridor, stretching from downtown to Millikin University.

A federal transportation grant of about $1.5 million will go toward enhancing streets around the campus, and the council Monday reviewed engineer drawings of the proposed improvements.

Edwards voiced concerns about some features of the plan, including archways over the road and ornamental fencing to steer students toward walkways.

"These extravagances are reflective maybe of bed and breakfast communities that border St. Louis, but not hardworking communities like Decatur," Edwards said.

Mayor Paul Osborne said the council will have to give final approval to the plans and funding before the project can begin.

No timeline has been announced for the project, which also is under review by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"It's a continuation of a really great project for the community," Osborne said. "It will make that area safer for the students."

Councilman Dan Caulkins said he shares Edwards' concerns.

"I'm trying to be diplomatic in how I say this," Caulkins said. "I'm just not sure how practical or well thought out the proposed plan is."

The reconstructed West Main streetscape includes a sidewalk and bicycle path.

Caulkins questioned the wisdom of merging the two lanes under a railroad crossing near Oakland Avenue.

"If somebody comes down that bike path or people are walking up that bike path, which is also a sidewalk, that's not acceptable," Caulkins said. "On the other hand, if it is acceptable to combine a bike path and the sidewalk, we should have done that from downtown instead of spending all that money on two-wide sidewalks."

Caulkins also questioned the wisdom of planting trees and shrubs along the roadway. The new greenery could make it more difficult for motorists to see students who enter the roadway, Caulkins said.

"If the purpose of this project is to protect the students, someone is going to have to explain to me how this accomplishes that goal," Caulkins said.

Assistant City Manager Greg Crowe said the design continues elements of the new West Main streetscape with interlocking brick pavers and lighting improvements.

The project also will help to extend the bike trail from downtown to Fairview Park.

"We're working closely with Millikin to improve pedestrian safety on West Main and Fairview and to improve the aesthetics around Millikin's campus," Crowe said.

The fencing will not stretch along the entire roadway, Crowe said. It would be placed only near pedestrian walkways to direct pedestrians to use the walkways.

Councilwoman Betsy Stockard in recent weeks inquired about building a pedestrian overpass to stretch over the roadway.

Crowe said overpasses rarely are successful, unless they are the only way to cross a large area, such as a river or interstate with multiple lanes of traffic.

At a recent Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce meeting, university President Doug Zemke praised the city's efforts to beautify roadways, including the West Main Street corridor.

"We have a wonderful opportunity to beautify this community and make it look like a wonderful place to live and work," Zemke said. "As far as I'm concerned, what you have done so far has been quite remarkable."

Caulkins remains "very skeptical" that the plan will come in on budget.

"This plan presents more questions than it answers," Caulkins said. "This is what happens when people who are put in charge of putting these plans together aren't concerned about the costs, and they become focused on the aesthetics without considering the practicality and the long-term implications or maintenance for this."

Edwards hopes the city will focus on more practical improvements.

"Is there an argument that the funding would be better spent on patching potholes on Eldorado Street or redoing Eldorado?" Edwards asked. "I think very much so."

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.