CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation has signed a 10-year, $185.5 million agreement with the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to continue their joint environmental and infrastructure research program.
Under this decade-long contract, PRI scientists will conduct geological, natural history, archaeological, and water studies across Illinois to support transportation planning and project development that seeks to minimize impact to the state's natural and cultural resources.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between IDOT and the U. of I, which launched in the 1970s.
“This strong relationship with IDOT leverages the expertise of PRI scientists, who are uniquely positioned to address the complex challenges that come with modernizing and managing the state’s extensive transportation network,” said Praveen Kumar, PRI executive director. “The scientific knowledge and data our experts contribute guides responsible development.”
PRI deploys field researchers across the state to identify and mitigate potential impacts, keeping Illinois projects in alignment with state and federal regulations.
Some examples of specialized work include:
- Contributing to environmental site assessments by analyzing historic and current land use and conditions.
- Evaluating the significance of historical cultural resources, conducting data-recovery excavations, and curating artifacts and records.
- Characterizing ecological conditions and surveying wildlife, vegetation, wetlands, and aquatic resources.
“Securing this 10-year contract with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues to provide the Illinois Department of Transportation with talented university specialists throughout the state,” said Lora Rensing, IDOT’s chief engineer and director of Highways Project Implementation.  “These individuals will evaluate how highway development affects the environment in Illinois, which is a critical step in fulfilling IDOT’s mission to be good stewards of our environment.”
The new agreement officially began July 1.
“The IDOT partnership with PRI is emblematic of how the university lives out its mission to serve communities across the state,” said Susan Martinis, U. of I. senior vice chancellor for research and innovation. “Through our research, we inform our partners on environmental and cultural considerations which are integral elements in transportation investments and projects.”