May 04, 2010
“Bike trails are growing in popularity across our state,” said Durbin. “Incorporating bike paths, bike lanes and sidewalks into the transportation system encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyles by providing a safe place to walk, jog, and bike close to home. And these funds will be spent creating jobs in communities across our Illinois.”
Burnham Greenway Gap, Burnham:
$250,000 in funding for design work to complete construction of a continuous 50-mile system from Hegewisch to Joliet and connect the Calumet-Sag Trail to Chicago. Communities along the trail will benefit from increased economic activity due to the large number of bicyclists passing through the area.
Calumet-Sag Trail, Cook County:
$350,000 in funding to produce wayfinding signs, construct trail heads and install amenities and interpretive features along the 32-mile multi-use path, from Lemont to Burnham. Fourteen communities and three forest preserves will benefit from improved trail access, an increase in trail use and visitors to the community, and stronger connections to the natural and historical heritage of the corridor. These dollars leverage the designs and recommendations of the Calumet-Sag Trail Wayfinding & Trailhead Master Plan.
Cross Town Bike Trail Connector, Rock Island:
$470,000 in funding for engineering and construction of up to 3.5 miles of off-road bike path and on-road bike lane/route markings. The Rock Island Cross Town Bike Trail Connector will provide a safe, cross-city transportation corridor for bicyclists, will connect two major regional trails, a national trail and several community facilities. The trail will connect to the new Veterans Memorial Bridge (West Rock River Bridge), which provides much-needed bicycle access across the Rock River.
General Dacey Trail, Shelby County:
$240,000 in funding for construction/engineering of phase VI of the General Dacey Trail. This one and a quarter mile trail section will be the connecting link between the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Center and the City of Shelbyville. The trail provides economic benefit to the area and increases the quality of life for nearby residents and to the millions of visitors that come to Lake Shelbyville annually.
Riverfront Multi-use Trailway, Kankakee:
$470,000 in funding for construction of Phase II of the Riverside Multi-use Trailway. This project is a component of a larger initiative to build a series of multi-use trails that will enhance recreational options, create jobs, preserve open space and benefit local businesses.
Rock Island Corridor Trail, Chicagoland:
$50,000 in funding for feasibility work and preliminary engineering for a bike/pedestrian trail along the Rock Island rail route in Chicago and Southwest Suburbs. Thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians travel through these areas and a new trail along the Rock Island corridor would provide a safe and convenient way to travel in the area.
Grand Illinois Trail, Savanna:
$200,000 in funding for the Great River Trail between Rock Island and Savanna. Funding will allow for design and engineering work to link the trail through Mississippi Palisades State Park. This phase covered approximately four miles, extending the existing 65 mile Great River Trail at Savanna north to IL Route 84 at the north entrance of the park. This project includes off-road trail alignment and three miles of on-road accommodations.
TREC Trail, Effingham:
$350,000 in funding for trail construction, including a bike/pedestrian bridge over the Little Wabash River. This bridge will provide a key connection between two sections of trail linking the City of Effingham to the Lake Sara community. This trail will bring health benefits, promote tourism, provide an alternative route of transportation, highlight scenic and historic areas, and improve quality of life in several communities. This project enjoys strong community support, including nearly $500,000 in private donations.
Veterans Memorial Trail, Will County:
$470,000 in funding for construction of the first phase of the Veterans Memorial Trail within the Interstate 355 Veterans Memorial Tollway Corridor. This recreational corridor will boost economic development, provide an alternative route of transportation, assist wildlife migration, highlight scenic and historic areas, provide open space, and raise the overall quality of life in multiple communities. A regionally significant initiative, the Veterans Memorial Trail will connect miles of trails throughout several counties, cities and villages.
Durbin Announces Funding for Illinois Bike Trails
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Illinois recipients of $2,850,000 in federal transportation funding for bike and pedestrian trail enhancements and improvements. Durbin secured this funding in 2009 as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act.“Bike trails are growing in popularity across our state,” said Durbin. “Incorporating bike paths, bike lanes and sidewalks into the transportation system encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyles by providing a safe place to walk, jog, and bike close to home. And these funds will be spent creating jobs in communities across our Illinois.”
Burnham Greenway Gap, Burnham:
$250,000 in funding for design work to complete construction of a continuous 50-mile system from Hegewisch to Joliet and connect the Calumet-Sag Trail to Chicago. Communities along the trail will benefit from increased economic activity due to the large number of bicyclists passing through the area.
Calumet-Sag Trail, Cook County:
$350,000 in funding to produce wayfinding signs, construct trail heads and install amenities and interpretive features along the 32-mile multi-use path, from Lemont to Burnham. Fourteen communities and three forest preserves will benefit from improved trail access, an increase in trail use and visitors to the community, and stronger connections to the natural and historical heritage of the corridor. These dollars leverage the designs and recommendations of the Calumet-Sag Trail Wayfinding & Trailhead Master Plan.
Cross Town Bike Trail Connector, Rock Island:
$470,000 in funding for engineering and construction of up to 3.5 miles of off-road bike path and on-road bike lane/route markings. The Rock Island Cross Town Bike Trail Connector will provide a safe, cross-city transportation corridor for bicyclists, will connect two major regional trails, a national trail and several community facilities. The trail will connect to the new Veterans Memorial Bridge (West Rock River Bridge), which provides much-needed bicycle access across the Rock River.
General Dacey Trail, Shelby County:
$240,000 in funding for construction/engineering of phase VI of the General Dacey Trail. This one and a quarter mile trail section will be the connecting link between the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Center and the City of Shelbyville. The trail provides economic benefit to the area and increases the quality of life for nearby residents and to the millions of visitors that come to Lake Shelbyville annually.
Riverfront Multi-use Trailway, Kankakee:
$470,000 in funding for construction of Phase II of the Riverside Multi-use Trailway. This project is a component of a larger initiative to build a series of multi-use trails that will enhance recreational options, create jobs, preserve open space and benefit local businesses.
Rock Island Corridor Trail, Chicagoland:
$50,000 in funding for feasibility work and preliminary engineering for a bike/pedestrian trail along the Rock Island rail route in Chicago and Southwest Suburbs. Thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians travel through these areas and a new trail along the Rock Island corridor would provide a safe and convenient way to travel in the area.
Grand Illinois Trail, Savanna:
$200,000 in funding for the Great River Trail between Rock Island and Savanna. Funding will allow for design and engineering work to link the trail through Mississippi Palisades State Park. This phase covered approximately four miles, extending the existing 65 mile Great River Trail at Savanna north to IL Route 84 at the north entrance of the park. This project includes off-road trail alignment and three miles of on-road accommodations.
TREC Trail, Effingham:
$350,000 in funding for trail construction, including a bike/pedestrian bridge over the Little Wabash River. This bridge will provide a key connection between two sections of trail linking the City of Effingham to the Lake Sara community. This trail will bring health benefits, promote tourism, provide an alternative route of transportation, highlight scenic and historic areas, and improve quality of life in several communities. This project enjoys strong community support, including nearly $500,000 in private donations.
Veterans Memorial Trail, Will County:
$470,000 in funding for construction of the first phase of the Veterans Memorial Trail within the Interstate 355 Veterans Memorial Tollway Corridor. This recreational corridor will boost economic development, provide an alternative route of transportation, assist wildlife migration, highlight scenic and historic areas, provide open space, and raise the overall quality of life in multiple communities. A regionally significant initiative, the Veterans Memorial Trail will connect miles of trails throughout several counties, cities and villages.