Cook County Board Approves IGAs for 2019 Invest in Cook Projects
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) today for Invest in Cook projects between the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) and local municipalities. These Invest in Cook initiatives are designed to bolster economic development and quality of life throughout Cook County.
Village of Oak Park
Cook County approved funding of a $310,000 2019 Invest in Cook grant for construction on Lake Street from Euclid Avenue to Austin Boulevard. Improvements include resurfacing the existing roadway, pedestrian safety improvements, ADA accessibility improvements and landscaping.
Elk Grove Village
The Cook County Board approved $250,250 for Phase III engineering for improvements to the Biesterfield Road Bike Path in Elk Grove Village. The Village plans to replace an existing four-foot sidewalk with an eight-foot shared use path, install ADA ramps and make pedestrian crossing improvements at intersections.
Village of Oak Lawn
The Village of Oak Lawn will undertake a feasibility/planning study to determine how to best improve Southwest Highway between Ridgeland Avenue and 93rd Street. Cook County approved $123,000 in 2019 Invest in Cook funding for the study.
Village of Posen
The Cook County Board approved $200,000 in funding for the Village of Posen for improvements along 143rd and 144th Streets between Western Avenue and Harrison Avenue. Improvements include removal and replacement of curbs and sidewalks along the roadway.
Village of Mount Prospect
DoTH will provide $460,500 in 2019 Invest in Cook funding for phase II engineering and right-of-way acquisition for improvements to mobility, access and safety at the intersection of Rand, Central and Mount Prospect Roads. The Village will also build a shared-use path at the intersection.
Village of Maywood
The County Board approved $122,400 for phase II design engineering for improvements to Washington Boulevard from 22nd Avenue to 9th Avenue in the Village of Maywood. Improvements include resurfacing, new curbs and gutters and drainage system.
Village of Arlington Heights
The Village of Arlington Heights will utilize $75,000 in 2019 Invest in Cook funds to construct an at-grade crossing on Lake Cook Road at Wilke Road. The Village will also a multi-use trail connection into the Lake County Forest Preserve’s Buffalo Grove Preserve.
City of Des Plaines
The City of Des Plaines will undertake phase I engineering for a pedestrian and bicycle path along the north side of Oakton Street between Des Plaines River Road and the Des Plaines River Trail. The Cook County Board approved $67,500 in 2019 Invest in Cook funding for the project.
Village of Melrose Park
DoTH will provide $55,000 in 2019 to the Village of Melrose Park for phase I engineering on 25th Avenue. The Village plans to reconstruct 25th Avenue between North Avenue and Lake Street to add an additional lane of traffic to this critical truck route and replace sidewalks on the west side of the roadway with a shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path.
“Invest in Cook has given communities throughout our County the ability to make much needed improvements to transportation infrastructure, improving the quality of life for our residents and visitors alike,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “These transportation projects have a direct impact for businesses and help to bolster our economy.”
Invest in Cook puts a premium on equal access to opportunity. More than half of the funding is directed to projects in low- and moderate-income communities.
Visit cookcountyil.gov/investincook for details about each project.
Invest in Cook is an initiative of Connecting Cook County, the County’s long-range transportation plan, which guides how the County invests in transportation to attract and retain businesses, people, capital and talent. These transportation grants help advance the Vital Communities, Sustainable Communities and Smart Communities priorities laid out in the Cook County Policy Roadmap established by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.