Updates & Developments

[UPDATE 1/30/2013]

Cal-Sag Trail Awarded $3.6 million!

Governor Quinn released Illinois Transportation Enhancements Program (ITEP) funds today, including two Cal-Sag Trail awards to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County:

1. •$1.7+ million to build the trail from Route 83 to 104th Ave.
   

2. •$1.8+ million to build the trail from 104th Ave. to 86th Ave. (hello, Plush Horse!)
   

The section of trail from 86th Ave. to Alsip was funded through ITEP in 2011 (see below). Now, nearly the ENTIRE western half is fully funded! Construction bids can be let this spring, with a ribbon cutting November 2013.

THANK YOU Governor Quinn, FPD of Cook County, and to Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Dan Lipinski for your support!

[UPDATE 10/25/12—Nearly final trail alignment map]

Click here to see it.

[UPDATE 9/18/12 —AND THEN A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENS...]

Time flies when you’re building trail!

Here is absolutely the latest info on the trail’s progress:

1. •All planning, design and engineering are finished on the the western half of the trail, roughly Cicero Ave. in Alsip to Lemont. The final step before going to construction bid is the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) signing off on the design and engineering documents. We anticipate receiving approval late this fall. That means a Spring construction bid is possible. And that means—asphalt by Fall 2013.
   

2. •On the east, Cicero Avenue to the Burnham Greenway—The preliminary planning report, which essentially identifies all the challenges for a potential alignment, is finished and has been submitted to IDOT for approval. Then design engineering begins. It’s only 6 months behind the western half of the trail. Design engineering is typically the easiest/quickest of the three phases of trail construction (construction being the third).  This means, presuming quick IDOT approval, that construction can be bid Summer 2013.
   

3. THE CAVEAT
   

4. •The section of trail between Cicero Avenue and Palos Park received construction dollars from Enhancements in 2011. For all the rest, the construction schedule depends upon federal grant awards—about $12 million. The members of the Coalition who need construction dollars—Burnham, Dolton, Riverdale, Blue Island, Alsip, Forest Preserve District of Cook County—have applied through Illinois Transportation Enhancements Program (ITEP) for funding.  Award announcements are likely mid-to-late October 2012. Waiting is torture.
   

5. WAYFINDING & AMENITIES PLAN
   

6. •It’s finished! We (FOCST) just received a copy today. FOCST raised more than $50,000 to help pay for the $250,000 plan that will help the Cal-Sag Trail Coalition outfit the trail with world-class wayfinding signs, amenities like bathrooms and water fountains, and signature projects like overlooks and outdoor theaters. We’ll have a PDF to share with you soon.
   

7. •Want to see actual-size mockups of some of the plan’s elements? Only one place—Bridges and Blues 2012.
   

[UPDATE 7/26/2011]

Public workshops for wayfinding & amenities have begun! Full press release here. Pictures from first workshop in Palos Heights are up on Facebook.

[UPDATE 5/5/2011]

Five applications for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grants were submitted in April for $18 million to complete the Calumet-Sag Trail and the Burnham Greenway, an important connector to Chicago and NW Indiana. Award announcements are likely in August 2011. Here’s a breakdown of the apps, including sponsoring agency:

1. •Village of Burnham (Construction and Phase 3 Engineering)
   $3,395,600 (Federal dollars)
   

2. •City of Blue Island (Construction and Phase 3 Engineering for entire East Segment, East Cal Sag Trail)
   $10,006,000 (Federal dollars)
   

3. •Alsip Park District (Phase 3 Engineering for Alsip Park District and Palos Park Segments, West Cal Sag Trail)
   $326,000 (Federal dollars)
   

4. •City of Palos Heights (Phase 3 Engineering for Palos Heights segment, West Cal Sag Trail)
   $181,000 (Federal dollars)
   

5. •Forest Preserve District of Cook County (Construction and Phase 3 Engineering for Cook FPD Segment, West Cal Sag Trail)
   $4,119,000 (Federal Dollars)
   

[UPDATE 1/30/2011]

Overall status  —

1. •The communities and agencies building the Calumet-Sag Trail are called the Calumet-Sag Trail Coalition. The Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail support the Coalition with fundraising, provide input as trail users to the Coalition, and advocate for the trail’s rapid completion and its service to the Triple Bottom Line.
   

2. •The trail is proceeding under two intergovernmental agreements (IGA): one for the western communities and agencies from the Alsip boat launch near Cicero Ave. west: Alsip Park District, Palos Heights, Palos Park, and the Palos Forest Preserve. The eastern IGA, from the Alsip boat launch going east, includes Alsip Park District, Blue Island, Riverdale, Whistler Forest Preserve, Dolton, Calumet City and Burnham.
   

3. •All of the preliminary environmental surveys and design engineering has been funded at 80% by federal grants. By federal law, non-federal funds (such as donations from Friends) must be used for the remaining 20%.
   

4. •A wayfinding (signs), amenities (water fountains, call boxes, birding areas, etc.) and trail head plan for the entire length of the trail kicks off early spring 2011; federal grants paid for 80% of the plan, and Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail is covering the 20% match (about $60,000). It’s what we do.
   

5. •Total cost for the trail’s construction will be $17-20 million (less than the cost of one expressway interchange). From new recreational spending alone, the trail’s return on investment could be as soon as 4 years.
   

Western Segment  (Lemont, IL to the public boat launch @ Cicero Ave., Alsip Illinois) —

1. •October 2010: $2.8 million dollars awarded through Illinois Transportation and Enhancements Program for construction, western boundary of Palos Park to the Alsip boat launch). The western communities asked for $4 million, which leaves $1.2 million yet to raise to fully fund the segment’s construction.
   

2. •Preliminary surveying and environmental studies complete; awaiting approval of environmental report by IDOT. Design & engineering begins pending IDOT approval.
   

Eastern Segment (Alsip boat launch to Village of Burnham) —

1. •Preliminary surveying and environmental studies continue; wetlands delineation report is complete.