Cook County Board Approves Funding for Transportation-Related Initiatives in Suburban Communities

An impact study of the Invest in Cook grant program among initiatives

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding today to further transportation projects and initiatives led by the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH). These are vital projects that boost economic development, build up regional transportation and improve quality of life throughout Cook County.

Fair Transit South Cook

The Board accepted a $330,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Fair Transit South Cook pilot project as part of FTA’s Accelerating Innovative Mobility initiative. DoTH was also approved to establish an account for the funds and will provide the $220,000 match for this federal grant that will be used for outreach activities and data analysis associated with the project. 

Fair Transit South Cook launched on January 4, 2021 and offers up to 50% reduced fares on the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines and extends service on Pace Route 352 Halsted. This is a three-year pilot project that improves public transportation for residents of the south side of Chicago, south suburban Cook and north Will counties. Fair Transit is a collaboration between regional transit operators Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Regional Transportation Authority. Ultimately, the project seeks to provide seamless transfers between all transit operators in subsequent phases.

Contracts

TY Lin International Great Lakes and Bowman Consulting Group
DoTH has been authorized to contract with TY Lin International Great Lakes and Bowman Consulting Group to provide construction management services at various locations throughout the County. Both contracts are $10 million for a period of three years with two, one year renewal options. These contracts allow DoTH to provide construction oversight for its pavement preservation and rehabilitation projects. The scope of work for both contracts includes construction supervision, inspection and documentation. These contracts assist DoTH with an increased volume of projects managed by the Construction Bureau and allow the department to increase the number of projects released to repair and upgrade assets managed by the County.

R. W. Dunteman Company
DoTH has been authorized to contract with R. W. Dunteman Company for the construction of a regionally significant freight mobility project between County Line Road, I-294, North Avenue and Lake Street in the cities of Northlake and Elmhurst. This project improves intersections at major junctions along County Line Road and U.S. 20 including Lake Street and North Avenue at Northwest Avenue and is a major off system project adjacent to the Illinois Tollway’s work along the Central Tri-State (I-294) and the Elgin O’Hare Expressway. Additional improvements include pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation, drainage, lighting, sidewalk and traffic signal upgrades.

Intergovernmental Partnerships

University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center and the Center for Neighborhood Technology
DoTH is partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center and the Center for Neighborhood Technology to conduct a study that assesses the extent to which the Invest in Cook program achieves the goal of identifying, selecting and advancing equitable transportation investments throughout the County. Invest in Cook is curated by the County’s long range transportation plan, Connecting Cook County, to leverage the region’s investments to advance local transportation priorities. This improvement resolution appropriates $105,300 in funding to complete the study. 

Village of Forest Park
DoTH and the Village of Forest Park are partnering to begin improvements associated with their 2020 Invest in Cook award that provides funding of design engineering services for the Forest/Norwood Boulevard Complete Streets improvement project, which extends from Indianwood Boulevard to Westwood Drive. This project advances key initiatives for the village by improving safety and walkability throughout the community. Enhancements include reconstruction and resurfacing of local streets, curb and gutter, ADA sidewalk improvements at intersections, extending the curb to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians, the design of a multi-use path and the installation of high visibility pavement markings. This partnership provides reimbursement for up to $480,000 for the County’s share of the costs associated with this project.

Village of Richton Park
DoTH and the Village of Richton Park are partnering to begin improvements associated with their 2020 Invest in Cook award for the extension of the Poplar Avenue Bike Trail. This project extends existing portions of the village’s bike network along Cicero Avenue from Richton Park to Matteson where it will connect to the Old Plank Trail. This partnership provides reimbursement for up to $414,000 for the County’s share of the costs associated with this project.

Village of Mt. Prospect
DoTH and the Village of Mt. Prospect are partnering to begin improvements associated with their 2020 Invest in Cook award for the preliminary engineering of a pedestrian bridge over Northwest Highway and Union Pacific Railroad tracks, providing a safe connection between Meadows Park and Melas Park. This partnership provides reimbursement for up to $62,000 for the County’s share of the costs associated with this project.

Village of Streamwood
DoTH and the Village of Streamwood are partnering to begin improvements associated with their 2020 Invest in Cook award for design engineering of a pedestrian bridge over Illinois Route 59 as part of the Madison Avenue Trail improvement project. The proposed path closes the gap between the existing off-street paths to the west of I-59 and the existing path that currently ends at Madison Avenue. The County will reimburse up to $170,000 for its share of the costs associated with this project.

Village of Morton Grove
DoTH and the Village of Morton Grove are partnering to begin improvements associated with their 2020 Invest in Cook award for the construction of sidewalks along Oakton Avenue as part of the Oakton/Caldwell Combined Communities Sidewalk Connectivity Extension project. The project consists of the installation of a new multi-use path to accommodate the large number of pedestrians and cyclists along this corridor connecting a gap in the existing sidewalk system. This partnership provides reimbursement for up to $267,000 for the County’s share of the costs associated with this project. The County’s Invest in Cook investment allowed this $4 million project to advance to construction.

For more information about DoTH, visit their website.

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