Lake in the Hills seeks grant funding for bike path

Lake in the Hills village officials are seeking a grant to build a bike path along Lakewood Road.

In recent surveys, residents repeatedly have asked for a bike/walking path. The proposed one would run along the east side of Lakewood, between Miller and Algonquin roads, connecting to existing bike paths at Miller, Reed and Algonquin roads. It also would connect homes to businesses along Lakewood and Algonquin roads, documents show.

"This area encompasses a majority of the village's economic and cultural resources, as well as the hub of its transportation network and will demonstrate a dramatic and very visible improvement," Village President Paul Mulcahy wrote in a letter to the Illinois Department of Transportation supporting the project.

Mulcahy said as Centegra's new hospital opens in Huntley, the Lakewood bike path would become an even more important regional connector.

Officials estimate the project would cost about $1 million for engineering, right-of-way and easement acquisition and construction.

The village will be applying for funding through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant, which offers 80 percent federal funding with a 20 percent local contribution.

If approved, McHenry County Division of Transportation has agreed to split the local costs with the village, which means Lake in the Hills would be liable for only $101,000.

An annexation agreement for the Lake Pointe Center Phase 2 calls for the developer to pay a percentage of the cost for the bike path up to $50,000, which would further reduce the village's portion of the costs.

The village does not have to complete the work until the grant is offered and accepted, and would have to bid and award the project by Sept. 30, 2019, documents show.

Neighboring Algonquin and Huntley also are seeking grants for bike paths.