Kane Co. Getting $2.6M For New Bike Paths
GENEVA, Ill. (STMW) - Kane County has been awarded more than $2.6 million in federal grant money to build three new bike and pedestrian paths.
The new paths will be in west suburban Geneva, Elburn and Montgomery.
The funding is part of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, or ITEP, designed to improve the quality of life in Illinois by promoting alternative transportation, such as bike and pedestrian travel.
The latest round of awards under ITEP totals nearly $90 million for 120 projects, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
"We are pleased to announce this special project funding to provide three more safe routes for bike and pedestrian traffic in Kane County," IDOT's Gary Hannig said. "We hope construction of the new trails will encourage more residents to take advantage of alternative travel options as they provide better access to residential areas, schools and shopping centers."
Kane County Director of Transportation Carl Schoedel said work has started here.
"All three projects are underway in terms of engineering," he said.
"The engineering could take several years, but I see no problem in completing the projects within three years."
The bike path in Geneva will begin at the southwest corner of Keslinger and Randall roads, travel under the existing Randall Road Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad, and then go northward, connecting to the South Street dead end. A new underpass will connect existing trails on both sides of Randall Road and run along South Street and Keslinger Road. It will get $1.8 million from ITEP.
The path in Elburn will be on the west side of the new Anderson Road alignment, between Route 38 and Keslinger Road. It will connect to an existing path along Keslinger and eventually the Great Western Trail. This project was awarded more than $505,000 from ITEP.
The path in Montgomery will run parallel to Orchard Road between Jericho Road and Route 30. This path will connect to a major regional trail system which is used for general travel and recreation throughout the region. This project was awarded more than $346,000 from ITEP.
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