Transportation & Infrastructure
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Transportation & Illinois Transportation Transportation Alternatives Congestion Mitigation & Surface Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Program (ITEP) Program (TAP) Air Quality Improvement Program (STP) In December 2015 the Fixing America’s Surface The Illinois Department of Transpor tation (IDOT) Congress created the Transportation Alternatives Program (CMAQ) In the past, these funds have been allo cated to Transportation (FAST) Act, a five-year transportation administers the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (TAP), which provides funding for non-mo- CMAP has been the administrator of Congestion coordinating regional councils to be used for roadway reauthorization bill, was established. The FAST Act Program (ITEP) and has funded projects including bi- torized transportation proj ects. Projects range from Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) pro- and roadway related items. Projects in this funding replaces the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st cycle and pedestrian facilities, street scaping, landscap- on-street bike facilities to multi-use paths and sidewalk gram funds for the northeastern Illinois region. CMAP category have required a local sponsor and have Century (MAP-21) Act, which expired in October 2015 ing, historic preserva tion, and projects that control infill programs to Safe Routes to School projects. TAP has supported a wide range of projects through the been selected based on a ranking scale that takes into and was extended three times. The FAST Act aims to or remove outdoor advertising. In the past, federal funds are administered by the Chicago Metropolitan CMAQ program including improvements to the bicy- account the regional benefits provided by the project improve infrastructure, provide long-term certainty reimbursement has been available for up to 50% of Agency for Planning (CMAP) through a formal appli- cle facilities, transit facilities, intersections, sidewalk among other factors. STP funds have been used for and increased flexibility for government, streamline the costs of right-of-way and easement acquisition and cation process. improvements, and signal timing, Funds have also a variety of project types including roadway rehabil- approval processes, and encourage innovation to 80% of the costs for preliminary engineering, utility been used to make transpor tation improvements to itation, reconstruction and restoration, widening and make the surface transportation system safer and relocations, construction engineering, and construc- eliminate traffic bottlenecks, limit desired emissions, adding lanes; intersection improvements, traffic sig- more efficient. tion costs. Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) and to create promotional campaigns to en hance use nage improvements, and green infra structure funding. The SRTS program has provided funding for the plan- of transit and bicycles. The FAST Act continues funding for numerous pro- ITEP funds may provide the opportunity to implement ning, design, and construc tion of infrastructure related grams previously funded through MAP-21. The City several of the recommenda tions in this Plan, includ- projects that will substantially improve the ability of should stay informed of the status of these programs ing: students to walk and bike to school, including: and new funding sources that may be introduced in Implementation of the Bikeway Master Plan; the near future as a result of the FAST Act. The follow- • • Sidewalk improvements; ing are grant programs covered under the FAST Act • Pedestrian crossing improvements at key inter- • Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements; that could be utilized by the City to make enhance- sections; and, • Pedestrian and bicycle-crossing improvements; ments to local transportation infrastructure. • Streetscaping on local-serving commercial cor- • On-street bicycle facilities; ridors such as Dundee Avenue, Larkin Avenue, Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and Villa Street. • • Secure bicycle parking system; and, • Traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools 118 Implementation Strategy City of Elgin Comprehensive Plan prepared by Houseal Lavigne Associates Parks, Trails & Open Space Land Acquisition Federal Land & Water Recreational Trails ComEd Green Region Program Open Spaces & Development (OSLAD) Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program (RTP) Openlands has partnered with ComEd to administer The OSLAD program awards up to 50% of projects The Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund pro- The Recreational Trails Program is a fed erally funded the ComEd Green Region Program. Recognizing that Illinois Department of costs up to a maximum of $750,000 for acquisition gram (LWCF) is a program with similar objectives to grant program for trail-re lated land acquisition, devel- open space is a crucial element of the quality of life, and $400,000 for development / renovation of recre- the OSLAD program that is also managed by IDNR. opment, or restoration. The grants are awarded based the ComEd program awards grants for municipal Natural Resources ational facilities such as playgrounds, outdoor nature LWCF grants are available to municipalities, counties, on the results of a competitive scoring process and efforts to plan for, protect, and improve open land in The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) interpretive areas, campgrounds and fishing piers, and school districts to be used for outdoor recreation the application’s suitability under FAST. A minimum ComEd’s service area of northern Illinois. The grants, administers several grants-in-aid programs to help park roads and paths, and beaches. projects. Projects require a 50% match. All funded 20% match is required by the applicant. Grants are to of up to $10,000 each, support existing open space munici palities and other local agencies provide a projects are taken under perpetuity by the Nation- be used for motorized or non-mo torized trail develop- projects that focus on conservation, preservation, and number of public outdoor recreational areas and facili- Administered by IDNR, OSLAD funding could be al Park Service and must only be used for outdoor ment, renovation, and / preservation. All projects must improvements to local parks and recreation resources. ties. The programs operate on a cost reimbursement used to imple ment several recommendations featured recreational purposes. be main tained for 25 years. Eligible applicants include Grant recipients can use Green Region grants in com- basis to a gov ernment or non-for-profit organization. in this Plan, including establishment of new open municipalities, counties, schools, non-profits, and bination with other funding sources to cover a portion Local governments can receive one grant per program spaces in the City’s future growth areas and improve- for-profit businesses. of the expenses associ ated with developing and/or per year, with no restric tions on the number of local ments to facili ties and programing as existing parks. In Illinois Bicycle Path Program supporting their open space program. governments that can be funded for a given location. addition, this funding could be used to connect resi- The Illinois Bicycle Path Program is a grant program IDNR grants are organized into three major catego- dential areas, commercial areas, and local destinations administered by IDNR that provides funding assis- ries: Open Space Land Ac quisition and Development to the Fox River Trail. tance up to 50% to acquire and develop land for pub- (OSLAD); Boat Access Area Development (BAAD); lic bicycle path purposes. Funded by a percentage of and the Illinois Trails Grants Program. vehicle title fees, maximum grants awards are limited to $200,000 City of Elgin Comprehensive Plan Implementation Strategy 119 prepared by Houseal Lavigne Associates Implementation Action Matrix Residential Areas Commercial Areas Goal #1: Housing Quality & Types Goal #2: Established & Historic Neighborhoods Goal #1: Support and Grow Local Commerce Provide a variety of housing options and living environments that support To protect property values and improve the quality of life of residents through- Maintain and further develop successful commercial areas that provide a existing residents and accommodate a wide range of ages and incomes, while out Elgin, further stabilize the City’s historic and established neighborhoods well-balanced local economy and a diverse range of goods and services that improving the overall health, quality of life, image, and the Elgin community. through preservation, sustained maintenance, reinvestment programs, and com- meet the daily needs of Elgin’s local residents and the immediate trade area. munity development efforts. Priority Priority Priority Objective Objective Objective Objective Objective Objective Variety of Promote a variety of housing types and densities in accordance with Partner with Continue to work with neighborhood associations to further local efforts Retail Nodes Implement land use policies that guide investment into retail and Housing the Land Use Plan, and ensure the Zoning Ordinance and other regu- Neighborhood and develop neighborhood plans while facilitating collaboration and re- service clusters that promote a sense of place and help create defined latory tools are updated appropriately. Associations source-sharing across Elgin’s residential areas. Promote the use of direct neighborhood business districts. communication tools with neighborhood groups, such as targeted Infill Projects Favor “infill” development over leap-frog developments that would Downtown