Veronica PiscitelliIllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced $139.2 million in funding through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). On May 21, 66 projects across the state were granted funds to enhance and expand local transportation and travel options. Each is seeking to further mobility and better the quality of life in communities statewide. The award money is sourced from Rebuild Illinois and will help complete the state’s biggest transportation enhancement program to date.
Rebuild Illinois, a capital plan which passed in 2019, invested $33.2 billion into the state’s aging transportation system. In doing so, it not only funded numerous completed and ongoing projects, but created jobs and promoted economic growth. Additionally, Rebuild Illinois was the first program in the state to touch on all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. As the largest capital program in state history, the bipartisan initiative made a historic amount of funding available for this round’s applicants, with 74% allocated for improvements in communities that best demonstrated financial need.
The ITEP awards include federal and state funds, both of which are administered by IDOT. The projects focused on improving bike and pedestrian travel as well as making other surface transportation improvements to promote a variety of options for getting around Illinois communities. Projects were awarded funds based on their readiness, connection to transportation networks, ability to secure public support and provide public benefits and other economic drivers. Additional consideration was given to projects serving areas with higher needs based on population totals, percentage of residents below the poverty level and estimated median household income.
Local officials, community leaders and transportation stakeholders celebrated funds being distributed to 66 projects that will encourage safe travel across various modes of transportation at the local level. The projects will focus on bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian paths, trails and other local improvements like streetscape beautification. Below are the details of some projects and the funding they received:
- Evanston: $3 million for Chicago Avenue bike and pedestrian improvements.
- Savoy: $1.3 million to improve the Prairie Fields path.
- Granite City: $1.9 million to help close a gap in the regional path and trail system.
- Alsip: $3 million for Hazelgreen and various sidewalk improvements.
- Belleville: $3 million for the West Belleville bike trail.
- Champaign: $3 million for Kirby Avenue complete street project.
- Chicago: $3 million for Ogden Avenue bikes lanes and pedestrian improvements.
- Chicago Heights: $277,990 to the McEldowney Park underpass project.
- Elgin: $3 million for the Kimball Street Bridge and Fox Rover Trail underpass.
- Forest Preserve District of Will County: $2.9 million to the DuPage River Greenway Trail.
- Midlothian: $3 million to the Natalie Creek Trail.
- Pittsfield: $1.6 million for downtown reconstruction.
- St. Clair County Transit District: $3 million to the Bunkum Road Trail.
- Summit: $2.4 million for the 74th Avenue pedestrian bridge.
Details and information regarding these and the other projects that received funding can be found on the IDOT website. The next call for applicants seeking to secure funding in round 17 will begin in 2026.
