The Village of Channahon today announced that it has been awarded $2 million through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) for the final phase of the Bridge Street Multi-Use Path project.
This marks the Village's third time applying for and receiving an ITEP grant for the Bridge Street Multi-Use Path project; the Village received a combined total of $1.46 million in ITEP funding in the 2016 and 2018 grant cycles for the design and construction of Phase 1, 2 and the first half of Phase 3 of the project. Upon the final phase's completion, the Village will have received $3.46 million total in ITEP funding for the entire project.
"The Village of Channahon is proud to have such strong support from IDOT on this transformative project," said Village President Missey Moorman-Schumacher. "Receiving this funding from ITEP allows us to provide an alternative means of mobility for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Bridge Street Multi-Use Path doesn't only affect Channahon residents; it also enhances the safety and connectivity measures for residents in Minooka and the greater surrounding communities. Residents will have an alternate means of transportation to and from the area schools, the Village's municipal areas, public parks like the I&M Canal State Park and Four Rivers Environmental Center, and so much more."
The Bridge Street Multi-Use Path will complete the missing, non-motorized link in the trail system connecting the eastern and western segments of Channahon, including Minooka High School, that are currently divided by the river system. The Bridge Street Multi-Use Path will provide a direct connection to existing area and regional public multi-use trails. At the east end, the path connects to the I&M Canal State Trail, which extends through the Channahon State Park, to the Village Municipal Complex and Commercial Districts, and ultimately through northeastern Illinois. The Bridge Street Multi-Use Path will also advance the goals established in the Village's 2008 Comprehensive Master Trail Plan and the 2019 Re-Imagine Channahon Comprehensive Plan.
The Village was one of 99 communities, out of 270 total applications, to be awarded an ITEP grant in the 2020 program cycle. In addition to receiving ITEP funding for the Bridge Street Multi-Use Path project, the Village of Channahon and the Village of Minooka also jointly received $1.71 million in ITEP funding for the McEvilly Road Multi-Use Trail Extension project.
This year's ITEP program is the largest ever due to the Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed in 2020. ITEP awards are made possible by federal and state funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and are focused on improving bike and pedestrian travel, as well as making other surface transportation improvements that promote alternative options for getting around your community.
For a full list of ITEP recipients, visit IDOT's website at https://idot.click/itep (link).
For more information on the Village of Channahon and current projects, please visit www.channahon.org (link) or call 815-467-6644.