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New bike path coming to Geneva after city awarded state grant

A new bike path along North Kautz Road is set to be built after the city of Geneva was awarded a $780,000 grant in 2021 from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Illinois Transportation Enrichment Program.

The new Kautz Road path was one of 99 projects awarded funding.

"The ITEP is administrated through IDOT and is a competitive grant that provides funding to expand travel options and enhance the quality of life," Geneva communications coordinator Kevin Stahr said. "The program encourages increasing mobility options by providing funding to include walking, biking or nature trails construction. ITEP funding also is eligible for streetscape installations such as path lighting, benches or planting beds."

The 0.7-mile multi-use path will run through Geneva, St. Charles and parts of unincorporated Kane County and is a component of a larger widening and reconstruction project for Kautz Road, Stahr said.

"The overall project is multi-jurisdictional benefitting two communities, Geneva and St. Charles, as well as DuPage Airport. Additionally, the project's design was advanced enough to be considered shovel ready," Stahr said. "The bike path is a component of the Complete Streets Practice, where roadways are designed to provide safe travel to support the mobility needs for all users."

The Kautz Road project will improve the road by including more open space for trucks and the mitigation of water drainage issues, according to a presentation given to the city of Geneva in September 2020.

"The overall project secured funding from three external sources including ITEP, STP (Surface Transportation Program) and TARP (Truck Access Road Program) funding," Stahr said.

A construction time frame for the project has yet to be set.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation website, $106 million in funding was awarded for the 99 projects. There were 270 applications.

"Investing in local communities strengthens our state's entire transportation system," Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said in a news release. "Under Gov. (JB) Pritzker's leadership, we're working to ensure resources are getting to the communities that need them most. By investing in infrastructure and travel options at the local level, we're making Illinois a safer and better place to work, build a business and raise a family."

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