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| Plan aims to make Geneva more bicycle-friendly | |
| Jul 20, 2005 | |
| Brenda Schory bschory@kcchronicle.com | |
| Kane County Chronicle | |
| Pertains to Geneva | |
| GENEVA -- In a bicycle-friendly Geneva, roadways would point to the downtown shopping district or to the Fox River Trail. Signs that state, "Yield to approaching bicycles," would alert motorists. And people could ride their bicycles safety and conveniently to Sunset Pool, Geneva High School or the Metra Station on existing trails or neighborhood links. A proposal to support more bicycle routes in town will be presented at a community meeting at 7 p.m. July 26 at Sunset Park, 710 Western Ave. Community Development Director Dick Untch said the Bikeway Implementation Plan represents a year of work by staff, consultants and volunteers on ways to improve and expand the Geneva's bicycling facilities into a network that would serve the entire city. The study's goal was to look at ways to become more accessible for people who ride bicycles as a way to improve the quality of life in the city, he said. "The bike implementation plan takes the amenity of the Fox River Trail and develops bikeways over time. It would extend accessibility of amenities in ways that are safe, convenient and clearly conspicuous," Untch said. In terms of the community meeting, Untch said the city wants to give the public an opportunity to comment on the specific recommendations. Geneva's existing bicycle facilities include the Fox River Trail, the Geneva spur of the Illinois Prairie Path, South Street bike lanes, the Kirk Road bike trail and a collection of separate paths within major parks and recent residential subdivisions. Last year, aldermen voted to pay consultants Schreiber/ Anderson Associates $54,000 to lead the study and assess existing bicycle routes and what would be needed to provide connections between regional trails. Several proposals to add trails and improve areas for trails would cost an estimated $1.2 million. But Untch said if the plan is approved, the proposal would be phased in and officials would look for grants to pay for them. Untch said the city applied for two federal grants for two bicycle trails. One is for $248,000 on the old Chicago and Northwestern Railroad at Seventh Street and West State Street that extends 3,900 feet to Route 31, and the other is for 2.3 miles in the Prairie Green Preserve for $330,000. Mayor Kevin Burns said a more user-friendly network would make it possible for people to use their bicycles for short shopping trips, commuting and recreation. "The draft plan represents the logical next step in expanding opportunities for bicycling in Geneva," Burns said. In addition to the community meeting, comments from the public can be directed to the Geneva Community Development Department, 22 S. First St., Geneva, IL 60134, or by e-mail to Dick Untch at duntch@geneva.il.us. A draft copy of the report and map are available by clicking on "Bulletins" on the city's Web site, www.geneva.il.us. |
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