For the second year in a row, infrastructure improvements and maintenance headed the list of the five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) unveiled at the River Forest village board meeting Jan. 12.
Among the initiatives in the coming year are adding flashing crosswalk signs at four intersections along Lake Street and creating a pocket park on two village owned parcels on Lake at Park Avenue.
In his village board presentation, Matt Walsh, village administrator, said capital expenditures are estimated to be $37 million over the next five years, almost $7 million of which is expected to be spent in the first year, Fiscal Year 2027, which begins May 1.
Major funding for the coming year will come from the water and sewer fund, $2.3 million; the capital improvement fund, $1.6 million; and the capital equipment replacement fund, $1.3 million.
Of the planned capital expenses, $2.3 million will be allocated for streets, sidewalks and alleys and $2.2 for water and sewer improvements.
Unveiling the capital improvement plan is the first step of the budget process. Officials said the plan is generally amended during the budget process as determinations are made for items to be moved forward or to be deferred based on current information.
In April, a budget will be prepared and recommended to the village board, which will take input from residents, if there is any, at a public hearing. The final step in the process will be adoption of the budget, which also is expected in April.
The streets, sidewalks and alleys capital expenses include street improvements, $575,000; traffic control installations, $510,000; and parking lot improvements, $431,905.
Projects include the Des Plaines River Trail project, $85,000; the Harlem Avenue viaduct project, $96,556; and converting lots at the corner of Lake and Park Avenue into a pocket park, which officials have dubbed Heritage Square, $100,000.
Half of the capital expenses for water and sewer improvements, $1.1 million, will go to replacing an eight-inch water main along Franklin Avenue from Madison Street to Washington Boulevard.
Walsh said the village has already received more than $1 million in grants to fund planned projects including a $750,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) capital improvements grant for the water main project; a $150,000 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District green infrastructure partnership grant and $200,000 DCEO capital improvements grant for parking lot improvements; and a $96,556 DCEO grant for the Harlem Avenue viaduct project.
In addition, staff members are planning to apply for or already have applied for grants to provide funding for the Lake Street Crossings project and the Washington Boulevard project as well as additional funding for parking lot improvements.
The $1.8 million Washington Boulevard project will include a road diet, bump outs, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and various other traffic calming measures that contribute to bicycle and pedestrian safety. The $64,744 Lake Street Crossing project was undertaken following what village officials term “frequent” complaints at public meetings about traffic conditions along Lake. Improvements include pedestrian refuge islands and rapid response flashing beacons at Lake intersections at William Street, Jackson Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Edgewood Place.
Village President Cathy Adduci expressed support for the Lake Street Crossings project and encouraged staff members to make it a priority.
Although reconstructing the parking lot south of Village Hall has been deferred, other parking areas will be reconstructed. Plans call for reconstruction of the east parking lot at the front entrance of Village Hall; the driveway along the north and west sides; and Police Department parking along the west side of the building.
The Heritage Square project would turn village-owned properties, a parking lot at the southeast corner of Lake and Park Avenue and a vacant grass lot at 419 Park, into a small park with seating and relaxation areas.
Streets to be resurfaced include Ashland Avenue, Clinton Place and Bonnie Brae Place, all from North Avenue to LeMoyne Street, and Forest and Park avenues, both from Washington to Madison. Others are Ashland from Hawthorne Avenue to Washington; Park Drive, Franklin to Park Avenue; and Vine Street, Park Avenue to Franklin.
Walsh thanked village staff members for their efforts in creating the CIP, especially Seth Jansen, management analyst.
Adduci also expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “Great work.”
