***REMINDER***
Advance registration for the meeting is required to receive login information, click here for registration information.
Lake County Council of Mayors Members,
The Full Council of the Lake County Council of Mayors will meet virtually at 9am on Thursday June 25, 2020. The meeting will be held virtually through Zoom, registration for the meeting is required to receive login information.
Click here to register for the June 25th Full Council Meeting
Please be aware that while not required, Zoom works best if participants download the application from https://zoom.us/download. Zoom has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. If you do not already have it installed, please allow fifteen minutes to do so prior to the 9:00 am meeting. If you are not able to download the app there is also an option to join in your web browser. We will be using screen sharing and polling to conduct the meeting.
If your computer does not have a camera or microphone, you can still login to the meeting through either the desktop or browser application to see the screen sharing and to vote on action items, and use a phone to dial in for audio.
We encourage everyone to use the Zoom app or browser client and only dial-in if they lack the ability to use the app for audio.
We look forward to "seeing" you on June 25th,
Mike Klemens
Council Liaison
 News and Information
The webinar is a collaboration between Active Trans and the Illinois Public Health Institute and is the first of a three-part series to help build the capacity of communities to successfully apply for ITEP funds. This year the ITEP grant cycle will provide $80 million in state and federal funding for walking, biking, and trail projects around the state.
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What: Intro to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) and Funding Eligibility Criteria
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When: Wednesday, July 1, 2020, 11:30 am- 1:00 pm
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Register here.
- Access the webinar flyer here.
As Chicagoans return to work and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, Metra is expanding its service on three lines to meet the needs of its growing ridership. Effective Monday, June 29, Metra will add service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines.The expanded service includes new morning and evening express trains on both the North Central Service and SouthWest Service lines, marking the first time that express service has been available on either rail line.
On the North Central Service, Metra is adding a 6:38 a.m. inbound departure from Antioch. The train will make all stops between Antioch and Buffalo Grove and then express to Western Avenue, arriving at Chicago Union Station at 8:04 a.m. A 5:01 p.m. outbound departure is also being added to the schedule for the evening commute. This train will operate express to Buffalo Grove and arrive in Antioch at 6:29 p.m.
For more information, click here.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has been authorized to implement a $1.5 billion grant program using proceeds from general obligation (transportation, series A) bonds authorized in the REBUILD Illinois capital program to provide Local Public Agencies (LPAs) with the funds for capital projects.
At this time IDOT intends to award and disburse REBUILD Illinois grants twice each year over a period of 3 years. IDOT expect's to award $1.5 billion in six (6) disbursements of $250 million each over the 3 years. The exact dates of the distributions will vary depending on the timing of the bond sales and identifiable needs of the LPAs.
All REBUILD Illinois grants shall be associated with an identified project(s) within one year of receipt. LPA’s may accumulate funds, if necessary, during the program period, but all grant funds shall be expended by July 1, 2025, which coincides with the expected end date of the REBUILD Illinois Capital Program.
According to the IDOT Circular Letter 2020-11 Funds received from these REBUILD Illinois grants must be deposited into the LPA’s MFT account. However, grant funds must be separately accounted for, the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association (IGFOA) has published a white paper on the necessary accounting procedures for the bond funds.
Local Agencies should coordinate with their local MFT field engineer to determine if a specific project is eligible for the Rebuild Illinois Bond funding and what the required project processing will be to use the bond funds.
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The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is testing new wayfinding signs on the North Shore Bike Path between Butterfield Rd and Saint Mary's Rd - and we want your input!
LCDOT announced new 'Explore Lake County' signs at its Bike Path Wayfinding and Signage Study public meeting on May 27. The signs, which were installed on a test section along the North Shore Bike Path, aim to give bike path users a better understanding of where they are on the trails and to make it easier to find connecting destinations. View a map to see where the test section is located.
 Along the test section are signs with instructions on how to provide your input through an interactive survey. The public is encouraged to take the survey after exploring the test section. Your feedback will help us complete the study and will be considered when we start installing these signs throughout our bike path system.
Recording of Bike Path Wayfinding Study Public Meeting
On May 27, LCDOT and Corbin Design presented its findings of wayfinding strategies and sign templates to enhance the County bikeways. Watch the meeting.
If you have any comments or questions about the study, please take the survey on the test section or email bike@lakecountyil.gov.
 This summer, CMAP will host the Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) virtually, meeting once a week, between July 16 and August 6. The Virtual FLIP Summer Series will highlight topics related to the impacts of planning during COVID-19, water resource management, inequalities in urban planning, and urban street festivals.
CMAP is currently seeking high school and college students for this free leadership development program. This is an exciting opportunity to explore the many ways urban planning affects our lives, meet other students with similar interests, and to learn how to make a difference. Interested students can register here.
The dates of commitment are as follows:
- Virtual Meet & Greet/Orientation: July 9, 2-3 PM CST
- Week 1: Planning for Urban Street Festivals, July 16, 2-3 PM CST
- Week 2: Planning Amid COVID-19, July 23, 2-3 PM CST
- Week 3: The Truth About Drinking Water, July 30, 2-3 PM CST
- Week 4: How Urban Planning Addresses Inequalities in Communities, August 6, 2-3 PM CST
The Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) -- a partnership of five council of governments dedicated to ensuring that dependable supplies of water are available for generations to come -- is encouraging participation in U.S. EPA's WaterSense Program to advance water conservation and efficiency. In May, the organization released a policy statement, which outlines the benefits and resources available to municipalities when they join the program.
Also, consider attending the monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings to learn more about water issues in the NWPA area. The next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 23 at 10 am, will include a presentation on how reported water use and withdrawal data is used to understand water supply conditions. Register for the virtual meeting here.
 2020 Illinois Bike Summit will take place on September 15th! Learn more about bicycling issues from your home or office. This year's online summit will be a day of learning and networking with the expected range of session topics - from bikeway types and bike share programs to advocacy and community engagement. Registration opens July 1st!
The Illinois Bike Summit attracts bicycle advocates, planners, engineers, transportation agency staff, and other from around the state. Ride Illinois switched this year's event to virtual/online due to pandemic restrictions and concerns. This does, however, make it easier for anyone around the state to "attend." Hence, the decision to make this year's Summit a virtual event.
This year's keynote speaker will be Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists! Bill leads a lineup of 35 speakers and panelists sharing their expertise with attendees.
Breakout session topics include:
- Infrastructure - Bikeway Types and Bike Planning
- Trails - IDOT's policy on crossings, and practical design/project tips
- Infrastructure case studies
- Bikeway & trail grants
- Bike sharing models
- Education resources
- Sharing the public way with e-bikes and scooters
- Apps and e-maps
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Bicycles and the Law
- Local Bike Advocacy
The Illinois Bike Summit will also have our Coffee Talks with chats on Adaptive Cycling, Life in the Bike Lane, Organizing a pop-up event, Complete Streets 101 and Biking with Kids.
Grant Funding Opportunities
 DECO grants to Support Local Governments in Infrastructure and Economic Development Projects. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) issued three Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the following programs:
Public Infrastructure: The State has allocated $50,000,000 in Rebuild Illinois funds to the competitive Public Infrastructure (RIPI) component. A grant ceiling of $5,000,000 per project has been established. Grants for less than $250,000 will not be awarded. The objective of the Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure (RIPI) component of the Rebuild Illinois plan is to provide grants funding public infrastructure improvements that can provide an improved foundation for economic growth in Illinois communities. (Guidebook) Applications are due June 30, 2020.
Regional Economic Development: The State has allocated $16,500,000 in Rebuild Illinois funds to the competitive Regional Economic Development (RIRED) component. A grant ceiling of $2,000,000 per project has been established. Grants for less than $250,000 will not be awarded. The objective of this program, in keeping with the Governor’s 5-year Economic Development plan, is to provide grants to strengthen local economies and encourage the development of regional industry clusters. (Guidebook) No application deadline.
Shovel Ready Sites:The State has allocated $13,000,000 in Rebuild Illinois funds to the competitive Shovel Ready Sites (RISRS) component. A grant ceiling of $2,000,000 per project has been established. Grants for less than $250,000 will not be awarded. The Governor’s Five-Year Economic Development Plan recognizes there are sites across Illinois with great economic development potential that require additional investment in order to become “shovel-ready.” Redevelopment in infill locations can use vacant buildings, parking lots, empty schools, or other underused sites for new amenities and businesses near existing neighborhoods.The purpose is to provide funding for site preparation for underutilized properties that can transform into economic development opportunities across Illinois. (Guidebook) No application deadline.
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