Oak Forest Receives Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant

OAK FOREST, IL — The City of Oak Forest is pleased to announce that it has been selected for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant. The Department received 270 project applications requesting over $293 million.

The ITEP commitment for this project—the installation of sidewalks to fill gaps within the pedestrian system surrounding the Kerkstra Elementary School on Le Claire, Lavergne, Laramie and 149th—is not to exceed $677,250.00.

The improvements will include the installation of concrete sidewalks that are ADA accessible with detectable warnings and parkway restoration. This project will encourage students to walk to school and pedestrians in general to walk the neighborhoods by increasing the route walkability by providing a continuous sidewalk path and a safer walk with a consistent sidewalk/roadway separation.

The ITEP grant is a federal grant for streetscape that incorporates elements encouraging bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

This press release was produced by the City of Oak Forest. The views expressed here are the author’s own.