Governor,Transportation Secretary Sign Structural Beam County Hub

A structural steel beam for the Springfield–Sangamon County Hub continues to be displayed on the first floor of the Sangamon County Building, where members of the public and visiting officials have been invited to sign the beam before it is installed as part of the Hub’s structure. The signing is part of an ongoing effort to allow residents, community partners, and government leaders to leave their mark on one of the most significant infrastructure projects currently underway in downtown Springfield.

During a visit to Springfield, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi both took part in the beam signing, adding their signatures to the beam that will later become part of the building’s superstructure. The beam has been made available for public viewing and signing ahead of the next phase of construction, which will include the erection of the Hub’s structural framework.

The Springfield–Sangamon County Hub is designed to bring together several transportation services at a single location along 9th Street. When completed, the facility will serve as a centralized hub for Amtrak, Greyhound, and the Sangamon Mass Transit District. A key feature of the project is a pedestrian bridge that will span the 10th Street railroad tracks and provide a direct connection between the new transportation center and the Sangamon County Building. The connection is intended to improve access to county services while allowing travelers to move easily between transportation options.

In addition to transportation services, the Hub will include a parking garage, updated streetscaping, consolidated county office space, and amenities designed to serve both travelers and residents. Plans also call for a grab-and-go coffee area, digital information displays, and permanent exhibits highlighting local history. One of the major historical installations will focus on the 1908 Springfield Race Riot and will incorporate artifacts uncovered during archaeological excavations connected to the rail relocation project. The Illinois State Museum is working with Sangamon County to develop the exhibit using materials linked to homes destroyed during the violence. The Hub will also include a dedicated space for the Springfield–Sangamon County Sports Hall of Fame.

County officials view the Hub as a major investment in downtown Springfield that will modernize regional transportation while expanding access to county services. Renovations inside the County Building have already created a new atrium that will eventually connect directly to the Hub, and the nearby former State Journal-Register building is being incorporated into the broader plan to expand space for public services and administrative operations.

The beam remains on display in the County Building and is open for public signing, giving residents the opportunity to participate in a small but visible part of the project before the beam is installed as construction on the Hub continues.