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IDOT awards $36 million to enhance Illinois transportation

IDOT Awards $36 Million in Federal Grants to Enhance Transportation in Illinois Communities. Competitive ITEP grant emphasizes bicycle, pedestrian and streetscape projects aimed at improving travel and quality of life

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today announced a nearly $36 million investment to expand travel options and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the state. The 53 projects approved through IDOT’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) include biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification work and other projects designed to encourage safe travel across the various modes of transportation at the local level.

“By investing in our local communities, we are strengthening our state’s transportation system as a whole,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “ITEP allows us to invest millions of dollars in multimodal infrastructure based on local needs, in doing so, we are improving options for safe travel and enhancing quality of life in communities across Illinois. Each of these investments embody our core mission at IDOT and bring us a step closer to our goal of a multimodal transportation system that benefits all residents of Illinois.”

A CTA brown line train leaves Madison/Wabash station in the Chicago loop. looking south (Photo credit: Wikipedia

Made possible by federal funds administered by IDOT, ITEP awards are focused on improving bike and pedestrian travel, as well as other surface transportation improvements that promote alternative options for getting around your community. To be eligible, applicants must commit a local match of at least 20 percent to their project and demonstrate a plan to have their awards spent within four years.

For the latest funding cycle, IDOT received 218 applications for projects worth an estimated $252 million. The next call for projects will be during fall 2019 followed by a spring 2020 award announcement.

Click here for more information about the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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