The Trail Between
Steve Johnson, Community Volunteer
East Branch DuPage River Trail (EBDRT), a north/south bike and pedestrian trail.
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DuPage County has developed a plan to create the East Branch DuPage River Trail (EBDRT), a north/south bike and pedestrian trail. The feasibility study was completed in 2004 and recommended construction over ten years. However, thirteen years later over 75% of the trail has yet to be funded.
Construction of the EBDRT would provide enduring benefits to the residents of Lombard, Glen Ellyn, and neighboring villages. Studies show that bike lanes and trails are a key quality of life attraction for home buyers. This low risk investment will help create a healthy and active community and raise property values. Construction of the trail will also allow residents an active transportation option to businesses along Roosevelt and Butterfield roads. By creating the bike trail, residents are enabled to buy more easily from local businesses while reducing traffic and improving the environment.
October 23, 2018
DuPage County Joins Forest Preserve and Glen Ellyn to develop DuPage River Greenway Trail plan
DuPage County will join with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage and the Village of Glen Ellyn in a grant application for planning and developing the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail.
The three local governments will create a joint application for a Local Technical Assistance Planning Grant with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This grant would fund evaluation and review of a portion of the proposed East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail between the Great Western Trail and Illinois 56, or Butterfield Road. The purpose of this planning grant, if approved, would be to better define a preferred alignment of the proposed trail, identify environmental resources and features to minimize impact, to engage stakeholders and the community in forming a consensus and identifying estimated costs of this four-mile segment.
To fund the effort, DuPage County and the Forest Preserve District have each allocated $75,000 and the Village has pledged $10,000 to serve as a grant match, should the application be approved.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin made the announcement Tuesday. He also said because DuPage’s Department of Transportation (DuDOT) was able to split costs with the Forest Preserve and Village for the grant match, the County’s budget provides flexibility to possibly allow the DuPage Division of Transportation to pursue detailed engineering studies of the portion of the proposed trail connecting the Great Western Trail to the Illinois Prairie Path. Cronin said this short connection would join two of the most traveled trails in the County and would provide trail access to Churchill Woods Forest Preserve.
“We’re talking about just a few miles of trail here, but it’s a wonderful example of DuPage’s Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency Initiative. Three governments, working together on one project, hope to benefit trail users from Glen Ellyn, from DuPage and from our entire region. I want to thank District 4 Board Members, especially Tim Elliott, for helping us fine tune this project. Our goal is always to leverage tax dollars in the most effective manner, creating the biggest impact possible for our residents.”
The three local governments will create a joint application for a Local Technical Assistance Planning Grant with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This grant would fund evaluation and review of a portion of the proposed East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail between the Great Western Trail and Illinois 56, or Butterfield Road. The purpose of this planning grant, if approved, would be to better define a preferred alignment of the proposed trail, identify environmental resources and features to minimize impact, to engage stakeholders and the community in forming a consensus and identifying estimated costs of this four-mile segment.
To fund the effort, DuPage County and the Forest Preserve District have each allocated $75,000 and the Village has pledged $10,000 to serve as a grant match, should the application be approved.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin made the announcement Tuesday. He also said because DuPage’s Department of Transportation (DuDOT) was able to split costs with the Forest Preserve and Village for the grant match, the County’s budget provides flexibility to possibly allow the DuPage Division of Transportation to pursue detailed engineering studies of the portion of the proposed trail connecting the Great Western Trail to the Illinois Prairie Path. Cronin said this short connection would join two of the most traveled trails in the County and would provide trail access to Churchill Woods Forest Preserve.
“We’re talking about just a few miles of trail here, but it’s a wonderful example of DuPage’s Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency Initiative. Three governments, working together on one project, hope to benefit trail users from Glen Ellyn, from DuPage and from our entire region. I want to thank District 4 Board Members, especially Tim Elliott, for helping us fine tune this project. Our goal is always to leverage tax dollars in the most effective manner, creating the biggest impact possible for our residents.”
Ginger Wheeler
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Dawn Bussey, Ginger Wheeler, Steve Johnson
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