President Preckwinkle, County Department of Transportation and Highways Announce Approval of ‘Invest in Cook’ Grants

Wed, 12/13/2017 - 12:00

Selected projects highlight Cook County’s transportation priorities

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced the approval of transportation projects selected as part of Cook County’s inaugural Invest in Cook grant program.

Intergovernmental agreements to fund $1.6 million for the eight projects were approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Those transportation-related projects focus on the principles of Cook County’s long-range transportation policy goals: enhancing transit, pedestrian, cycling and freight facilities, and improving existing infrastructure.

“The momentum of Invest in Cook places Cook County as a transportation leader in the region,” said President Preckwinkle. “The investments approved today means our residents and businesses will have world-class transportation options in our communities.”

Cook County’s involvement in the following projects provided the local funding to match federal funding.

135th Street from Kostner Avenue to South Claire Boulevard in Robbins. This stretch of road will be resurfaced to facilitate redevelopment of the Village’s economic development district.
Washington Boulevard from 22nd Street to 1st Avenue in Maywood. This grant funds preliminary engineering for roadway resurfacing, new curb and gutter, the potential for bike lanes and improved drainage. An improved Washington Boulevard will enhance access to the forest preserves, schools, parks, a business district and Pace bus service.

The other approved Invest in Cook projects are:

Armitage Avenue in Melrose Park. This preliminary engineering grant will enable the preparation of a multimodal design for this major trucking route’s reconstruction to address industrial shipping needs, residents’ desire to bike and walk, and flooding associated with Silver Creek following major storms.
Proviso Drive in Berkeley. This grant funds preliminary engineering for the reconstruction of Proviso Drive, a truck route serving industrial districts in Berkeley and Melrose Park that also provides access to Union Pacific’s Global II Intermodal Terminal and Proviso Yard — busy rail facilities in Cook County and critical drivers of the economy’s freight sector.
Touhy and Cicero Avenues improvements in Lincolnwood. This grant will fund preliminary engineering for the Touhy and Cicero Geometry Improvement, a redesign of the northbound Edens Expressway exit ramp. This study will lead to improved mobility and a safer roadway.
Des Plaines River Bike Trail at the Union Pacific Railroad in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. This grant funds preliminary engineering to address a significant gap in the Des Plaines River Trail at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks located just north of Golf Road in the City of Des Plaines.
223rd Street and Cornell Avenue in Sauk Village. This grant will fund construction to resurface/rehabilitate the section of 223rd Street and Cornell Avenue from Sauk Trail to Torrence Avenue — a roadway that connects residents to Pace bus service, several schools, healthcare facilities and retail stores.
Waukegan Road in Northfield. This grant will fund the construction of a sidewalk on the east side of Waukegan Road from the College of American Pathologists to Winnetka Road — one of the only stretches on Waukegan Road in Cook County without a sidewalk.

Last month, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved intergovernmental agreements for eight other Invest in Cook projects.

Invest in Cook is an initiative of Connecting Cook County, the County’s first long-range transportation plan in 75 years, which lays the groundwork for how the County invests in transportation to attract and retain businesses, people, capital and talent.

The County’s investment of $7.2 million in the program leverages an additional $7.6 million in federal, state and local funds to advance 30 transportation projects spanning 42 communities. The commitment of County transportation resources will enable $14.8 million in project in the coming year. Visit cookcountyil.gov/investincook for more details about each project.