Latest news with #IllinoisTransportationEnhancementProgram
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
St. Charles looking for resident input on sidewalks
The city of St. Charles has developed a survey to gather input from residents to help with sidewalk planning in the city's neighborhoods, officials said. Resident feedback will help the city decide where sidewalks are needed, where they may not be wanted and where improvements are necessary, according to a press release from St. Charles. The survey closes July 11. The comments received will be incorporated with other criteria to help guide the city in future project selection, the release said. The survey is available at The city of Geneva is aiming to enhance electric service reliability by replacing underground utility cable in four areas throughout the community starting in July, city officials said. The 2025-26 underground electric replacement program areas include: South Harrison Street near Spring Street, July 7 to Aug. 18; James Street west of Ninth Street, Aug. 18 to Sept. 8; 2000 block of South Batavia Avenue, Sept. 9 to 26; and James Street from Third to Fifth streets, Sept. 27 to Oct. 29, according to a press release from the city. Construction dates are estimates and may be subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen factors, the release stated. The city's contractor, Utility Dynamics, will be installing conduit through utility easements and public right-of-way during the work. Electrical transformers, pedestals and street lights also will be replaced, according to the release. During the latter part of each project, the contractor will energize and connect homes to the new equipment, officials said. Scheduled power outages will be required as part of this process. The city will be sending notifications in advance of any service disruption, the release stated. The Forest Preserve District of Will County is the recipient of a $1.9 million grant for trail and road improvements through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Meant to help expand local travel options and enhance a community's quality of life, the funds will support a trail that will be built in partnership with the city of Aurora and Wheatland Township Road District, according to a news release from state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. It will stretch along the north side of Wolfs Crossing Road west from Carls Drive and on the south side east from Carls Drive, the release said. Trail users will be able to head west to Hoffman Boulevard to connect to a system of Aurora trails or east towards the forest preserve district's Normantown Trail or the Naperville Park District's Tallgrass Greenway Trail. The project is in the first phase of engineering, which includes a preliminary design alignment. Musical performers for the Last Fling celebration, scheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 1 along Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville, have been announced by the Naperville Jaycees. Sammy & the Knights will kick off the party when they perform at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, followed by 7th Heaven at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 30, Buckshot Bully takes the stage at noon, Fearless at 2:30 p.m., 90s Pop Nation at 5:15 p.m. and Too Hype Crew at 8 p.m. Performers on Sunday, Aug. 31, are Within 4 Days at noon, Mixtape Junkies at 2:30 p.m., the Ron Burgundys at 5:15 p.m. and headliner Sixteen Candles at 8 p.m. On the final fest day, Monday, Sept. 1, Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones play at noon and Mike & Joe at 3:45 p.m. In the beer garden, Brent Brown will perform Friday through Sunday and Michael C. Hayes on Monday. Last Fling features live music, food, beverages, a carnival and the Labor Day parade.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Teen artwork to be displayed on streetlight controller boxes; forest preserve district wins $1.9M grant for trail, roads
Six local high school students will have their artwork displayed on streetlight controller boxes located near Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools. City officials announced the teen artists selected for the project were Avani Aggarwal, Jumana Janoowalla, Soha Javaid, Olivia Mancha and Annie O'Boyle from Neuqua Valley High School and Alice Wang from Naperville Central. Their artwork will be installed by June 30, officials said. The city this spring solicited designs from students ages 13 to 18 and received 30 entries, a city memorandum said. Members of Naperville's ArtForum made the final selections. Winning selections include colorful jungle scenes, hot air balloons, a look at the seasons, and rainbows and music. Naperville resident Wing Yu Ng, a graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association as part of its essay contest. She plans to major in finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. About 70 high school seniors submitted essays from which four were selected to receive scholarships, a news release said. Ng's essay, 'Daily Lifestyle Changes to Help Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change,' discussed how everyday choices and changes can affect the environment, according to the nonprofit utilities association, which represents Illinois municipalities that own and operate public utility systems. American Legion Post 43 has awarded $3,000 college scholarships to Naperville Central High School graduates Arwa Hameed and Lucy Ross and Naperville North High School graduate Madeline Pecak. High school seniors were asked to submit an essay describing the responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society and were graded by four judges based on grammar, spelling, originality, context and content. Other factors considered were students' academic achievement, leadership, participation in school and community activities, honors, community service and patriotic involvement, according to a news release. Hameed will be studying business and political science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Ross will be studying elementary education at Central Washington University; and Pecak will be studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Forest Preserve District of Will County is the recipient of a $1.9 million grant for trail and road improvements through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Meant to help expand local travel options and enhance a community's quality of life, the funds will support a trail that will be built in partnership with the city of Aurora and Wheatland Township Road District, according to a news release from state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. It will stretch along the north side of Wolf's Crossing Road west from Carls Drive and on the south side east from Carls Drive, the release said. Trail users will be able to head west to Hoffman Boulevard to connect to a system of Aurora trails or east towards the forest preserve district's Normantown Trail or the Naperville Park District's Tallgrass Greenway Trail. The project is in the first phase of engineering, which includes a preliminary design alignment.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Frankfort receives $1.6 million grant to expand bike and pedestrian trail system
After failing to receive the same grant several years ago, the village of Frankfort received $1.6 million in state funding to expand a trail system for bikers and pedestrians and improve safety, the village announced May 21. Mayor Keith Ogle said connecting the path that ends at Pfeiffer Road and Sauk Avenue to another path that ends at Laraway Road and 80th Avenue was a priority when he entered office in 2021. 'I think when (the trail) was put in, some of the housing developments that were south of Laraway Road, in that area, were not completed,' Ogle said. 'So now it's been very apparent, and when I became mayor that was one of the first things — like we've got to get this done.' Ogle said the original trail system was installed more than 20 years ago, and connecting the trails will allow bikers and pedestrian to travel throughout east Frankfort more safely. 'For the residents that live south of Laraway, their only point of access would have been to come up 80th Avenue crossing Laraway,' Ogle said. 'There is a signal there, it's by Chelsea School. But for some of the other ones, this was really a missing link.' The village applied for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program in 2022, but was unsuccessful. Ogle said they applied again last year but budgeted for the $2.2 million project to ensure construction was set for next spring. The 10-feet-wide, 1.5 mile long trail is expected to open to pedestrians and bicyclists next summer, Ogle said. Ogle said he was thrilled to learn the village received $1.6 million from the department of transportation and will use remaining money budgeted for other infrastructure improvements, including adding a spur to connect some of the subdivisions near Laraway Road and 80th Avenue. 'We're going to have a look at the overall master plan, and then start planning and budgeting for it too,' Ogle said. 'Our bike path goes through the historic downtown. It's beautiful — it's really a scenic path. And we take a lot of pride in how we maintain it. It's a very popular area for visitors to come through, and it connects a lot of other communities in Frankfort.' Jodi Haefner, 52, who lives on Laraway and 80th, said as a distance runner who drives to the trail five days a week, she will directly benefit from the new connection. 'Going out there and having to do a long run, it definitely would save me the hassle of having to drive my car to the trail,' Haefner said. 'At least I could start at my house, get the extra mileage.' Haefner said she also believes the trail connection will improve safety for others in the area who opt to bike or run to the trail rather than drive. 'It would make life a lot easier than having to dodge in and out of cars,' Haefner said. 'That road is hilly and when there are bikers or runners on the road, it gets a little dangerous.' ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Frankfort receives $1.6 million grant to expand bike and pedestrian trail system
After failing to receive the same grant several years ago, the village of Frankfort received $1.6 million in state funding to expand a trail system for bikers and pedestrians and improve safety, the village announced May 21. Mayor Keith Ogle said connecting the path that ends at Pfeiffer Road and Sauk Avenue to another path that ends at Laraway Road and 80th Avenue was a priority when he entered office in 2021. 'I think when (the trail) was put in, some of the housing developments that were south of Laraway Road, in that area, were not completed,' Ogle said. 'So now it's been very apparent, and when I became mayor that was one of the first things — like we've got to get this done.' Ogle said the original trail system was installed more than 20 years ago, and connecting the trails will allow bikers and pedestrian to travel throughout east Frankfort more safely. 'For the residents that live south of Laraway, their only point of access would have been to come up 80th Avenue crossing Laraway,' Ogle said. 'There is a signal there, it's by Chelsea School. But for some of the other ones, this was really a missing link.' The village applied for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program in 2022, but was unsuccessful. Ogle said they applied again last year but budgeted for the $2.2 million project to ensure construction was set for next spring. The 10-feet-wide, 1.5 mile long trail is expected to open to pedestrians and bicyclists next summer, Ogle said. Ogle said he was thrilled to learn the village received $1.6 million from the department of transportation and will use remaining money budgeted for other infrastructure improvements, including adding a spur to connect some of the subdivisions near Laraway Road and 80th Avenue. 'We're going to have a look at the overall master plan, and then start planning and budgeting for it too,' Ogle said. 'Our bike path goes through the historic downtown. It's beautiful — it's really a scenic path. And we take a lot of pride in how we maintain it. It's a very popular area for visitors to come through, and it connects a lot of other communities in Frankfort.' Jodi Haefner, 52, who lives on Laraway and 80th, said as a distance runner who drives to the trail five days a week, she will directly benefit from the new connection. 'Going out there and having to do a long run, it definitely would save me the hassle of having to drive my car to the trail,' Haefner said. 'At least I could start at my house, get the extra mileage.' Haefner said she also believes the trail connection will improve safety for others in the area who opt to bike or run to the trail rather than drive. 'It would make life a lot easier than having to dodge in and out of cars,' Haefner said. 'That road is hilly and when there are bikers or runners on the road, it gets a little dangerous.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Altamont city council discusses current and future projects
ALTAMONT – Illinois will remove its 1% grocery tax in January 2026. Municipalities will have the authority to replace that tax, which is what the Altamont City council recently discussed and plans to do. Instead of the tax money going to the state, it will be going back into the city's general fund. 'It'll just shift,' said City Clerk Sarah Stephen. 'Instead of being dispersed between several different entities, it will all come to the city now.' The council also approved a $12,700 payment to Courts and Cracks to repaint Nori's Yard Multi-Use Court which will also include a new basketball goal similar to the ones in Gilbert Park. 'It looks very nice,' said Mayor Mike Walker. 'I look forward to everyone using that this summer.' 'I just want to thank … the community team members that raised the money to do this,' said City Commissioner Tayler Polk. 'Looks excellent. There's kids there all the time. Mine, as well.' In other news: Milano & Grunloh Owner and Project Manager Lee Beckman updated the council on some projects in progress around town. When the new sidewalks are installed along Main Street, they will be 1.5 times bigger than the previous ones and ADA compliant. Beckman is also planning an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program project to upgrade lighting, boulevards and sidewalks along both sides of Main Street from the railroad tracks to Route 40. Effingham County Recovery Oriented Systems of Care Coordinator Samantha Hicks informed the council of how ROSC works with individuals and families that suffer from substance use disorder and mental health disorders. 'One of our main focuses for this fiscal year is to reach the smaller villages outside of Effingham City because that city has a good abundance of resources,' said Hicks. 'But the villages outside of Effingham City face different barriers as far as long-term recovery, sobriety and mental health issues.' Hicks wants to support the people that need those types of services and connect them with support. The council also approved the sale of 107 North Main Street which was a continuation of the tabled item from August when the council wasn't full. The city sold the vacant property to RDM Designs Custom Cabinetry & Flooring so they can expand the business to the north. The next Altamont City Council meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 6 p.m. at the municipal building.
