Plans to improve pedestrian and bicycle accessibility and use along a 1.35-mile stretch of Waukegan’s Washington Street corridor, from just east of Lewis Avenue to 200 feet east of Sheridan Road, are a step closer to reality.
Seeking a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to cover 80% of the needed engineering work to craft a construction plan, the city must finance the balance of the work.
The Waukegan City Council voted 9-0 to approve the city’s 20% participation in the grant Monday at City Hall, setting the grant request effort in motion to have the engineering work done as the first phase of the project.
Mayor Sam Cunningham said the grant request is the start of a $25 million project that includes rebuilding the entire roadway from Green Bay Road to the Metra railroad station just east of Waukegan’s downtown. It will complement plans for the downtown and lakefront.
Not only will the project improve bicycle and pedestrian access, with the proximity to the railroad station and multiple Pace bus routes in the area, but the effort will benefit users of public transportation as well, according to city documents.
Cunningham said in an email Tuesday that the grant will help the city invest in more than rebuilding a road. It will help transform Washington Street into a “gateway” into the city that is more pedestrian-friendly and safer for everyone.
“I am excited to see the Washington Street Corridor Improvements Project moving forward, bringing us one step closer to transforming this vital gateway into a safer, pedestrian-friendly corridor connecting Downtown Waukegan with the rest of Lake County,” Cunningham said.
Work for this phase of the project includes improved streetscape and landscape near businesses, bicycle infrastructure with connection to the Robert McClory Bike Path, street light upgrades to improve visibility, sidewalk and accessibility ramps, improved transit stops and mid-block crosswalks, according to the plan.
With City Council approval, the city plans to seek funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Washington Street project. Washington is one of three major arterial east-west roadways connecting Waukegan with much of Lake County, according to the documents.
“The corridor is home to a range of neighborhoods, small businesses, three major public schools and the College of Lake County,” the city said in its proposal. Existing multimodal infrastructure shows “connections between downtown Waukegan, the Washington corridor and the region.”
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Edwin Felipe-Pozo, the city engineer, said in an email Tuesday that the project is reimagination of what a street should be for everyone who uses it. Vehicle drivers are only one of those moving from place to place on a street. There are also walkers, cyclists, businesses, and school students.
“We want to reimagine what a true, safe gateway looks like,” Felipe-Pozo said in the email. “We hope that this project sets a standard for not just Waukegan, but for the whole region.”
Cunningham said in December that completion of the project is “years away.” It will take between five and 10 years to complete. When done, its eastern terminus will go into the heart of downtown Waukegan and lead to the lakefront.
“It will be a game-changer for pedestrians who will be able to walk to our lakefront,” Cunningham said in December. “This could be a 10-year project. It will help rebuild Waukegan.”
Sam Lepien, an assistant planner, said in an email Tuesday that as the city seeks funding for this portion of the plan, it helps create a reality.
“I know I speak for everyone involved on the project when I say that we are ecstatic to create the Washington Street that this city deserves,” he said.
Thomas Maillard, who handles special projects and legislative affairs for the city, said in December that some of the work is already underway in a very limited way. In addition to improving the road for pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transportation, it will be better for drivers.
“We’re already working on improving the bus shelters on Washington Street,” Maillard said in December. “This will include sidewalks and beautification of the Robert McClory Bike Path. It may include reconfiguring part of it.
The initial engineering is the first step. Once done, Cunningham said the second phase is the development of detailed plans, and phase three is construction.
“This project is a crucial milestone as we continue to rebuild Waukegan,” he said.