Urbana City Council will discuss several resolutions authorizing improvements at the intersection of Green Street and Goodwin Avenue at their regular meeting Monday.

Urbana public works recently received an $800,000 grant from the government to improve the intersection. Council members will discuss the possibility of constructing a roundabout at the intersection but will have to complete research to determine if that is a feasible option.

“As time goes on, the city council and public works will be thinking hard about the right way to improve the intersection,” said Erik Jakobsson, Ward 2.

In recent months, city council has heard several testimonies and looked at a lot of evidence for other intersections in Urbana showing that roundabouts are a safer alternative to signal intersections, Jakobsson said.

He said the intersection is very busy and difficult for bicyclists, buses, cars and pedestrians and is especially a problem for students trying to get to class.

He added that a roundabout is a good solution to this problem because it would create a more efficient and safer way for pedestrians to cross the intersection because they always have the right-of-way.

In addition, roundabouts move just as much traffic as a normal signal intersection would but more safely and efficiently, he said.

“The issue of controlling traffic is an interesting problem,” said Jakobsson. “Building a roundabout is expensive, but inexpensive to maintain and saves fuel and injury costs in the long run.”

The county will continue to do detailed studies to determine if a roundabout is an appropriate option for the intersection, and public works will look into other alternatives. The research process will take about two to three months to get the information back.

“Public works did a great job getting the grant, but we have to decide how we can make the best use of that money to promote pedestrian safety and vehicle efficiency,” Jakobsson said.

Jakobsson said he expects that the resolution will be approved at Monday’s meeting.

Also discussed will be a resolution supporting the naming of the federal courthouse in Urbana after James R. Burgess Jr., a decorated war veteran and the first black locally elected county official.

Jakobsson said the resolution will most likely be approved, although not unanimously.

Even though the final decision is made at the federal level, Jakobsson said it is important to make a statement on behalf of the community to show support. He added that this is a necessary step because the federal government would not do anything with the issue if there was no support from the community.

“This is a really remarkable story and deserves to be memorialized so people can realize and understand our history,” Jakobsson said. “I really hope it happens. We will try to organize some office visits to make it clear that this is important and why.”