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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF AN ILLINOIS TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL
WHEREAS, the Lake County Forest Preserves (“LCFP”) is soliciting to begin Phase I and II engineering and will submit a grant application to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (“ITEP”) to request support for Construction and Phase III Construction Engineering for the reconstruction and repair of dual multi-use bridges that are on both LCFP and Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) property and that cross over Lake Cook Road and link the Des Plaines River Trail between Cook and Lake Counties (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the 50-mile long Des Plaines River Trail, 28 miles of which winds through Cook County, has long involved multiple partners and municipalities, including the Lake County Forest Preserves, in its care, maintenance, and enhancements efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Project would advance goals set forth in the Forest Preserves’ Trail Master Plan and Next Century Conservation Plan to improve access to outdoor recreation opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Phase I and II Engineering for the Project is estimated to cost $584,000.00, which is recommended to be split equally between LCFP and the Forest Preserves; and
WHEREAS, this ITEP Grant would fund 80% of eligible Construction and Phase III Construction Engineering costs of the Project which has an estimated total cost of $6,746,000.00, with LCFP serving as the local sponsor and lead Project manager; and
WHEREAS, should LCFP be awarded this ITEP grant for the Project, a local match, estimated to be $1,746,000.00, is required to complete Construction and Phase III Engineering, with an estimated $912,470.00 in local match to be provided by the Forest Preserves; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the ITEP grant application, the Forest Preserves needs prior authorization from the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners to contribute towards the local match requirement of Phase I, II, and III Engineering and Construction costs of this Project, where all such ineligible costs associated with the Project and the Forest Preserves’ share of local match is estimated to be $1,204,470.00; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves and LCFP desire to encapsulate the details of the Project and the sharing of all such costs through an Intergovernmental Agreement, the terms of which have been submitted to the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners for approval separately (Board Item No. 26-0324).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Forest Preserves to join with LCFP to apply for the ITEP grant described above and commit to reimbursing LCFP for up to $292,000.00 for the Forest Preserves’ share of Phase I and II Engineering costs for the Project, and up to $912,470.00 towards the local match for Construction and Phase III Construction Engineering of the Project for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,204,470.00. end