Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows would share costs of Weber Drive work
Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows are likely to partner on reconstruction of a half-mile stretch of a north-south thoroughfare that runs through both towns.
Weber Drive, also known as Old Wilke Road, is a two-lane street between Algonquin Road and Central Road that has a traffic volume of less than 5,000 vehicles per day but is in poor condition and has been in Rolling Meadows' capital improvement plan for years, officials say.
The traffic signals are outdated and pedestrian crossings are also in need of update, they added.
So, the city and village have proposed splitting the cost of a $103,042 phase-one engineering study that would pave the way to an eventual reconstruction of the street, addition of a southbound right-turn lane on Weber Drive approaching the Algonquin Road intersection, and resulting changes to the traffic signal. Crossings would also be updated with new pedestrian signal heads, countdown timers and accessible ramps, officials said.
The study, to be performed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, would also evaluate the feasibility of extending the 8-foot-wide bike path on the west side of the street up to Central Road.
As part of the engineering work, Burke has proposed doing a topographic survey, environmental review, lighting assessment, and collecting data such as traffic and crash counts. Engineers plan to also determine a construction cost estimate.
The city and village have secured a $1.5 million federal grant through the Surface Transportation Program. Through an intergovernmental agreement approved by the city council Tuesday night, both sides will agree to split their local share of costs, which includes the phase one and two design engineering and phase three construction.
Since Rolling Meadows is taking the lead on the project, Alderman Nick Budmats sought assurances that Arlington Heights would hold up its end of the deal, after raising concerns about past intergovernmental partnerships.
But City Manager Barry Krumstok said Arlington Heights has paid invoices in a timely manner under previous agreements involving grant money.
The Arlington Heights board is set to vote on the pact in February.