The City is leading the effort to improve Hobbie Avenue from Court Street (IL Route 17) on the south to Fair Street (IL Route 50) on the north, a distance of 0.78 miles. Hobbie Avenue currently experiences poor pavement condition, safety issues, mobility deficiencies, pavement drainage deficiencies, gaps in the sidewalk, non-ADA compliance, outdated railroad crossing protection, and lack of bicycle accommodations.
Hobbie Avenue provides a vital link in the regional transportation network by linking Court Street to Fair Street, which serves nearby residents, commercial businesses and industrial operations. The Kankakee Area Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization has included this project in their Long Range Transportation Plan and is providing federal funding at an 80% level for engineering and construction. The City of Kankakee is responsible for 20% of the engineering and construction costs.