Hoffman Estates closer to bike plan

Hoffman Estates trustees, looking to make the village more bicycle-friendly, on Monday preliminarily approved a plan that could lead to new bike paths and lanes.

Though no specific timeline has been established, the goal is to phase the plan in over 10 years, Traffic Engineer Nathan Roseberry said. The board did not approve funding Monday for the 82-page plan, which will continue to be revised.

Funding could come from government grants and donations from the private sector. The village board will vote again on the matter next week.

Roseberry and Director of Transportation and Engineering Mike Hankey have worked on the village's comprehensive bicycle plan since 2007. They've conducted public meetings to seek input.

Roseberry said cyclists were most concerned with building paths to the forest preserves and crossing over the Addams Tollway.

"This has gone through a very thorough public review process," Hankey said. "We've also gone outside to get expert technical reviews of the document."

A final cost was not presented, though officials provided partial estimates. Bike lanes could cost $8,500 to $9,500 per mile, and paths could cost $700,000 per mile. Hoffman Estates spans about 22 square miles.

The plan entails paths and road signs to encourage more cycling in the village. Trustee Anna Newell said the plan went further into the goal of "greenness and greatness in Hoffman."

Village-led bicycle rides on June 25 and July 5 also are proposed in coordination with the village's Fitness for America Sports Festival, which features bicycle and inline skating races.

The board approved the concept, though Trustee Cary Collins voted against the village's involvement, citing liability issues. He said he would welcome the ride without the village's support. He questioned the safety of the event.

"Sometimes when they travel in packs, they seem to ignore a lot of the signage out there," Collins said.

The July 5 ride would start at 9 a.m. and take place before the village's Fourth of July festival in hopes of reducing traffic congestion, Roseberry said.

Hoffman Estates already has bike trails thanks to its park district and the forest preserves. Its neighbors in Elgin, Palatine, Schaumburg and Streamwood already have paths that could connect with Hoffman Estates.

For more information on the plan, visit hoffmanestates.com/bikes.