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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

So many bike-ped projects getting money (and so many not)

Published 16 days ago • 2 min read

Do you think this spot needs funding help?

38 bike-ped projects getting state funding

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A section of downtown Arlington Heights is among the 38 bicycle-pedestrian projects awarded funding in the 2025 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The work there is "installation of sustainable streetscape, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure"; it was awarded $3 million. That always sounds good, but my post of the news in the Arlington Heights community raised the question of whether other parts of town could better use funding for bicycling connections like paths and lanes.

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Many projects awarded funding indeed will make needed links to transportation options or just to help people get around town, like a 1.1-mile path along Irving Park Road in Streamwood. Others were big things like an underpass at Kimball Street in Elgin to the Fox River Trail, or a new bike-pedestrian bridge in Lincolnwood. See the details on the 38 projects.

What didn't get the money

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Catching my attention the most among the few dozen suburban bike-ped projects rejected for ITEP funds was the Stearns Road missing link, 1.7 miles between Munger Road and James "Pate" Philip State Park in DuPage County. It seems logical to provide bicyclists a safer way to ride from one set of paths — both on Stearns Road to the east and Munger Road — to the paths at the state park.

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Other big ideas were an underpass on Bartlett Road at Route 59 in Bartlett, and another at the Route 14 S-curve in Des Plaines. Projects in south suburbs like Hazel Crest, Markham, Harvey, East Hazel Crest, Justice, Bedford Park and Burr Ridge also were denied funds. See the list.​

Looking at other things

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Meanwhile, improving connections is the aim of two "subregional" studies: The “O’Hare Area Bike Network Study” and the “West Cook Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.” Both are a collaboration of several suburbs. See the details.​

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Plus, one of the projects rejected for ITEP funds involved Rawson Bridge Road between Port Barrington and Cary. That's a lovely ride now for more serious cyclists, as my video from last summer shows. And I reviewed my ride in the Arlington 500 event put on by the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club (in Lake County).

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ALWAYS ON THE WEBSITE

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Speaking of events, a big one is on Sunday:

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​Invitational/charity ride calendar:

  • Bicycle Club of Lake County Ramble is on June 8 just over the Wisconsin border, starting at Wilmot Mountain.
  • Janesville Morning Rotary Club Pie Ride is Saturday, June 14.
  • Just added: Pac Mac Ride to fight pediatric brain cancer is Friday, June 20.

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Canadian wildfire smoke is triggering air quality alerts, but who can resist riding in June? Don't push it too hard out there. — Neil

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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Neil Holdway

A source for the great trails and roads to ride a bicycle in Chicago's suburbs, and to learn about efforts to make bicycling easier there.

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