Despite pause on new biking funds, area projects keep rolling

Based on President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order “Unleashing American Energy,” biking infrastructure projects are currently being reviewed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Section 7, labeled “Terminating the Green New Deal,” requires all agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” legislation that provided funding for biking and pedestrian improvements.

Any impact on several Chicago area transportation projects already underway?

Under the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s regional initiative titled Safe Travel for All, six northeastern Illinois counties are developing separate safety action plans aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Working in partnership with Metra, Illinois Department of Transportation and the counties, CMAP received a $4 million grant in 2022 from USDOT’s “Safe Streets and Roads for All” five-year program.

Lindsay Bayley, Safety Program Lead for this initiative, said CMAP initially paused project work directly related to grants through federal IRA and ILJA legislation, including the countywide Safety Action Plans. After additional guidance from federal partners, that work resumed with a target adoption date no later than June 5 by the CMAP Transportation Committee.

“SAP teams are committed to developing compliant plans that consider the road safety needs across the region, and recommend proven solutions as well as a strategic path to reduce crashes that result in death or serious injury, with a goal of zero,” Bayley said.

The existing five-municipality West Cook Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, also paused initially, has resumed after CMAP received direction from IDOT for continued funding.

Streamwood bridge

Based on the completed Bartlett/ Streamwood plan, progress on the bike/pedestrian bridge spanning Route 59 continues. Initial work started last spring: site preparation, utility work and installing foundations for the wetlands boardwalk, which will tie into the existing path system on Route 59’s west side.

Last fall, Streamwood installed a path along Madison Drive connecting the boardwalks with the park/path system along Irving Park Road.

Matt Mann, Streamwood’s director of public works, said, “To date, we haven’t seen any impact to the federal funding for our Route 59 bike/pedestrian bridge. Steel bridge installation is still scheduled to start in September.”

Bull Valley crossing

In McHenry County, the Bull Valley Multi-Use Trail project is designed to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists along Bull Valley Road. A new, 10-foot-wide trail will be constructed along the road’s north side, filling an 0.8-mile gap between the Prairie Trail and Moraine Hills State Park.

The McHenry County Division of Transportation project also includes widening Bull Valley Road at the Prairie Trail crossing to add a median refuge island for walkers and bikers, while extending the Union Pacific Railroad crossing to accommodate path users.

Hans Varga, MCDOT Public Information Officer, noted the county received $4.5 million from the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program as grants through CMAP. Construction isn’t slated to start until FY2028, but project funds are already allocated, per Varga.

“While the county is not able to anticipate the status of these funds over the next few years, we are committed to proceeding forward with this project,” Varga said. “We do not currently foresee any project delays that would push back our current timeline.”

Old McHenry Road Crossings

The primary objective of Lake County Division of Transportation’s Old McHenry Road Crossings project is to improve safety, traffic operations, and connectivity for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians within and surrounding the Old McHenry Road and Canadian National Railroad crossing near Hawthorn Woods.

Four highways carrying about 25,000 vehicles daily converge near the CNRR’s at-grade crossing, with approximately 20 daily freight trains. Estimated at $100 million, the multiyear project incorporates a below-grade separation, plus numerous roadway reconfigurations to increase vehicle traffic flow.

Biker/pedestrian improvements include new traffic signals, sidewalk and trail connections, improved crosswalks and new multiuse paths. With these amenities only part of the project’s scope, LCDOT has no federal funding concerns, per Alex Carr, deputy communications officer for Lake County.

Lake County hasn’t applied for federal funding yet. With planning and engineering design phases now fully funded, the county's next priority is securing funding for construction, which is expected to start in FY2029 and beyond.

“It’s expected to be a competitive project for future funding consideration,” said Carr. “We will actively seek additional opportunities through local, state and federal programs.”

Randall Road at Hopps

Kane County’s Randall at Hopps project intends to improve rail safety and expand the roadway to address expected increases in traffic volume on Randall Road near the borders of Elgin and South Elgin. It also includes construction of a multiuse path to close an existing gap on Randall Road’s west side.

According to Project Manager Jennifer O’Connell, chief of design at Kane County Division of Transportation, “As with the majority of our roadway improvements, this project includes ancillary multiuse path improvements, but the primary benefit will be construction of a new grade separated crossing of Randall Road over the Canadian National Railroad along with an additional through lane in both directions.”

“As such, we don’t anticipate a project delay or an impact to the federal funding for the proposed Randall Road at Hopps Road intersection reconstruction and CNRR grade separation improvement.”

Bike & Walk Summit

“Creating Connected, Livable, Thriving Communities” is the theme of the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit, which takes place Wednesday and Thursday, May 7-8, at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.

Sponsored by Ride Illinois, Active Transportation Alliance and the American Planning Association — Illinois Chapter, this conference attracts advocates, planners, transportation officials and individuals across Illinois.

May 7 speakers, breakout sessions, and workshops focus on safety, accessibility, and connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists. On May 8, advocates and individuals can choose between advocacy training or trail development workshops in the morning, then lobby their government representatives for safer biking and walking that afternoon.

May 8 agenda for planners, engineers, and municipal staff includes technical training regarding best practices for developing bikeable, walkable communities. Online registration is available at secure.rideillinois.org/.

• Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.