Officials to re-evaluate Elgin-to-Hoffman Estates bike path

The day after an Elgin neighborhood association president panned a planned bike path that threatens to restrict parking, the city was planning a meeting to see whether the bike path is possible -- without the parking issues.

Elgin has received a federal grant that will help pay for a bike path in the northeast neighborhood that will connect to a path in Hoffman Estates at Congdon Avenue, weave through the neighborhood and terminate at Douglas Avenue and Kimball Street.

But part of the federal guidelines call for parking restrictions on Congdon Avenue and Prospect Boulevard, said Jeff Gill, president of the Northeast Neighbor Association.

He approached the city council Wednesday night and said NENA says no to the project if it means people can only park their vehicles on one side of the street, something he said would disrupt people's lives.

“We like the idea of a bike trail in our neighborhood ... the problem is that in order to accept this grant, you have to accept restrictions,” Gill said.

He suggested that the city fund the project itself so it doesn't have to follow federal guidelines that deal with parking bans.

The bike route through the neighborhood was the best plan engineers came up with, because it caused minimal disturbance with respect to parking bans, said Omar Santos, a city engineer.

It is just one part of the city's Bikeway Master Plan.

On Tuesday, the city will meet with a consultant and the engineering department to see whether the project is possible without federal help, said Randy Reopelle, director of the parks and recreation.

“Basically, they're just going to consider (Gill's) request and see if it makes sense,” Reopelle said.