Gov. Blagojevich announces new convenience for Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum goers

SPRINGFIELD - The thousands of people planning to attend Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum opening activities will find a new, much-needed parking option.  Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a new parking garage, containing more than 600 new spaces at the corner of Madison Avenue and North 6th Street, will be available beginning the weekend of April 16th, a month before the structure's originally scheduled completion date.

"Thousands will come to downtown Springfield to celebrate the debut of the new world-class museum and to explore our history," said Gov. Blagojevich. "The completion of this garage will help everyone enjoy the opening festivities even more and will be a tremendous asset after the opening as the world learns what we already know - how the museum brings scholarship and showmanship together and brings the history of Lincoln's times to life."

The parking garage will be open and in use for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Dedication events throughout the weekend including: the Looking for Lincoln Block Party, the Culinary Court, the Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Abraham Lincoln, the Scholarly Conference, the Recreation of Lincoln's Farewell Address, the Torchlight Parade, Outdoor Concert and Fireworks.  The garage will be closed for Dedication Day and will reopen on April 20th, 2005. 

The ALPLM parking garage consists of four levels.  The top level is uncovered, and features a snowmelt system. The garage has two glass elevators and there will be an attendant on duty as well as a self-pay lane to exit the garage.  Just north of the structure is a lot with a separate entrance and approximately 24 spaces for tour or school buses.  The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is currently considering a price of $.50 per half hour to park in the garage.

The parking garage was scheduled to be complete on May 16th, 2005.  But, thanks to the first-time use of an incentive program offered by the Capital Development Board (CDB), the parking garage was substantially completed by April 1st, 2005.

"CDB chose to use an incentive program for the parking garage for several reasons," said CDB Executive Acting Director Jan Grimes.  "We knew the parking needs for the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum were a concern and understood how completing this project early could aid in the success of the opening.  We also had contractors willing to participate in a voluntary incentive/disincentive program."

CDB and all four contractors, Halverson Construction, G A Rich & Sons Inc., Anderson Electric Inc. and Automatic Fire Sprinkler LLC, agreed to utilize an incentive program to build the parking garage.  Under the incentive agreement, a window of 45 days was given on each side of the scheduled completion date.  The contractors could earn up to an extra 3% of the estimated cost of construction for early completion, or lose as much as 3% for late completion. Construction completed up to 45 days before the May 16 due date, was worth an extra $5,883.20 for each day it was ahead of schedule.  With a completion date of April 1st, the incentive payment totals approximately $264,750, the bulk of it going to the general contractor, Halverson Construction.  Had the garage not been completed by May 16, money would have been subtracted at the same rate for each day it was past due.  The total cost of garage, without the incentive, is approximately $7.97 million.  With the incentive and other small cost adjustments, the total project cost roughly $8.4 million.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is designed to fully engage the general public in the life and times of America's 16th president.  The complex is comprised of four buildings, including the parking garage:

· Museum - an entire city block of state-of-the-art, full-immersion experiences and galleries that guide guests into and through the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

· Library - home to the world's largest collection of Lincoln-related materials and new home of the Illinois State Historical Library.

· Union Station (under construction)- restored 1898 train depot that acts as the gateway to Lincoln's life and will serve as a visitor orientation center where guests can purchase tickets, make reservations, obtain travel itineraries and learn about other Lincoln sites in Illinois.

In addition to the four-building complex, a newly landscaped public park will round out the campus, providing visitors a beautiful, natural environment in which to reflect on their experience at the Library and Museum.