Brookfield trustees have unanimously to apply for two state and federal transportation grants.
One grant would help pay for a bike path along 31st Street.
The other grant would fund a pedestrian bridge and trail linking Creekside Woods to Creekside Park.
The village applied to the same program in each of its last two cycles and was turned down both times.
This round, Brookfield had outside help shaping the applications. Award decisions are expected in spring 2027, staff told the board.
The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program combines federal and state money and runs on a two-year cycle, a representative of Hancock Engineering said.
Bike and pedestrian projects and streetscape work are the categories that best fit Brookfield, the rep said at the Sept. 28 village board meeting.
The village’s 2024 application for the Creekside project failed. After that loss, Brookfield applied for and received technical assistance from the Active Transportation Alliance, which has reviewed the new applications,
The first resolution commits village money to an application for the second phase of the trail extension along 31st Street. The resolution does not state the amount
If the application succeeds, the grant would cover 80% of phase two’s cost.
Brookfield is the lead agency on the larger first phase, which runs along 31st Street and First Avenue into Lyons. That phase involves the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Cook County, Lyons and Riverside.
For phase two, the agencies split the work. Brookfield is applying only for the stretch of 31st Street from Prairie Avenue to the village limit. Riverside is applying for a portion along First Avenue. Brookfield has also asked Riverside whether it wants to partner on the segment to First Avenue.
The phase one engineering firm is expected to submit its report within the next couple of months and phase one should be finished by summer or fall 2027.
Creekside bridge and path
The second resolution authorizes the application and up to $572,596 in local matching money for the Creekside pedestrian bridge and bike path.
The path would run through Creekside Woods in the South Hollywood neighborhood, between the homes and Salt Creek, with a bridge connecting it to Creekside Park, according to Ali and village staff.
The concept map behind the application grew out of technical assistance the village received from the National Park Service in 2023, staff told the board. The application includes cost estimates for the full pathway so it can form a loop rather than a single line.
After the 2024 rejection, the program’s grant administrator told the village the project was strong, staff said.
The Conservation Commission held a public meeting on the project the week before the board vote. Residents shared concerns and comments at that meeting, Trustee Katie Kaluzny said.