The Chainlink

Evanston Receives $1.5 Million in Federal Funds for New Cycle Tracks

New federal grant allows for a two-way cycle track along the east side of Sheridan Road, between Chicago Avenue & Lincoln Street, alongside the Northwestern campus, as well as along the west side of Chicago Avenue from Sheridan down to Davis Street, connecting with the Church Street & Davis Street protected cycle tracks.

http://www.cityofevanston.org/news/2014/04/evanston-awarded-grant-t...

"The City of Evanston has been awarded nearly $1.5 million in federal funding for bicycle transportation improvements, Gov. Pat Quinn announced on Saturday.

The Public Works Department submitted the request for the $1,492,403 grant, which was awarded by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). The funding will go towards the construction of a bike path along two segments of roadway in Evanston. 

Sheridan Road
The project includes the construction of a two-way bike path along the east parkway adjacent to Sheridan Rd. from Chicago Ave. to Lincoln St. Consultants and City staff will conduct an analysis to evaluate two improvement options:

  1. A three-lane road configuration with an on-street, buffered bike lane; or
  2. A four-lane road configuration with an off-street, two-way bike path.

Chicago Avenue
The project includes the construction of a two-way, on-street bike path along the west side of Chicago Ave. from Sheridan Rd. to Davis St., connecting to the protected bike paths on Davis St. and Church St.

“Being America’s most livable city includes being bike friendly,” said Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl. “This project will not only make transportation in Evanston safer, healthier and more sustainable, it will make it more enjoyable too.” 

The improvements will be designed in 2014, with construction planned to begin on Chicago Ave. in the spring of 2015. Sheridan Rd. construction will begin in the summer of 2015. The local share of the biking improvement costs will be $373,000.

The Sheridan Rd. and Chicago Ave. biking improvements are part of a larger City infrastructure improvement project, including streetscape and sustainable parkway enhancements, resurfacing and water main improvements, and biking connections from Wilmette to the downtown Evanston Central Business District."

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Pretty sure i won't be using it if it happens. i am not a fan of two-way on-street paths... one winds up riding facing oncoming traffic which i personally find disconcerting. i understand the concept in the proposed routes- to create a seemingly safer path for Northwestern student riders, but as someone who commutes daily through Evanston, i prefer using Orrington or Sherman south from Central to Foster or Clark streets. Hinman, Judson & Forest avenues also provide good through town alternatives to Chicago ave or Sheridan south of the campus.

Evanston should lay down more sharrows like they have on Sheridan from South Blvd to Main and Central west of Central Park, and post more "share the road" signage. Sharrows and signs are cheaper and to my mind safer than two-way on-street paths.

A resurfacing project city-wide would be a welcome thing.

i wonder how many of the planners of these new cycle tracks actually ride?

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