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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: March 13, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution requesting the designation of Bilter Road from Farnsworth Avenue to Eola Road as a Federal Aid Urban Route.
PURPOSE:
To provide a resolution of support for the application of Bilter Road to become a Federal Aid Urban (FAU) Route.
BACKGROUND:
In order to be eligible to utilize certain federally funded roadway programs, the streets in the City need to be classified as a FAU Route. Occasionally the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Kane-Kendall Council of Mayors (KKCOM) will collaborate on a system wide update. This system wide update generally includes the addition of new routes, classification changes, and potentially route removals on segments that don't meet policy. The City does have an option to apply for individual routes to potentially be added to the FAU system.
DISCUSSION:
The City has identified Bilter Road from Farnsworth Avenue to Eola Road as a candidate for addition to the Federal Aid Route system. Farnsworth Avenue and Eola Road are both already included in the Federal Aid system as an FAP and FAU route, respectively. This segment of Bilter Road appears to be a gap in the existing system, especially after the Tollway interchange for Eola Road was built.
By asking for the roadway to be individually added to the system now, it will hopefully be added and eligible in time for the next KKCOM Call for Projects anticipated in early 2024. City staff has identified some potential improvements in this corridor to be completed around or soon after the Hollywood Casino moves to Farnsworth Avenue.
Based on existing and proposed development along this stretch of Bilter Road, it is anticipated traffic volumes will increase, and the addition of this route to the Federal Aid system will more readily allow the City to improve safety and congestion along the corridor. A draft application for the routes addition to t...
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