 The Lake County Council of Mayors (LCCOM) is seeking public comment on the Recommended Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021-2025 Surface Transportation Program (STP). The recommended program lists the program of projects that the LCCOM anticipates being able to fund with federal surface transportation funding over the next five federal fiscal years. The program of projects includes maintenance, modernization, and expansion of the transportation system in Lake County. Comments on the proposed program are being accepted from July 1st-July 30th, 2020 and can be sent to Mike Klemens, Council Liaison at lccom@lakecountyil.gov.
Background
The LCCOM is one of 11 sub-regional councils in the Chicago region that represent local governments on transportation issues through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Made up of units of local governments located within Lake County, the Council is a cooperative body focused upon programming federal transportation funding for local road, transit, and bicycle facility projects. The LCCOM receives an annual allocation of federal Surface Transportation Program Block Grant (STP) funds.
The LCCOM adopted new council rules for the local Surface Transportation program on August 1st, 2019. The Adopted STP Methodology Guidebook sets new rules for how the Lake County Council of Mayors selects projects to be funded with federal transportation dollars and how projects will be managed once they are selected. The adopted guidebook was drafted with the input of Lake County municipalities, Council staff, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) staff and Federal Highway Administration staff over the course of nearly two years and was approved unanimously by the LCCOM on August 1st, 2019.
The adopted guidebook set the foundation for the LCCOM’s 2020 Call for Projects. Applications for projects were accepted from January 30th through May 1st, 2020. The LCCOM received 39 applications from 22 municipalities during the call for projects. All projects were scored in either the Roadways and Intersections Category or the Pavement Preservation Category and then ranked based on the approved STP Methodology.
In additional to new applications, many projects currently programmed, but not yet completed in the LCCOM’s current STP program have been grandfathered into the FFY2021-2025 Recommended Program, a one-time opportunity for projects to be considered in the new program as the LCCOM transitions to the newly adopted rules. In the future, all projects being added to the LCCOM’s program will come from applications that are scored and ranked according to an approved methodology. The LCCOM will have a regularly scheduled call for projects in January of even ending years.
Comments on the LCCOM’s Recommended FFY2021-2025 STP Program can be sent to Mike Klemens, Council Liaison at lccom@lakecountyil.gov through July 30th, 2020.
 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.
NACTO, with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, is offering grants of $25,000 to ten member city transportation agencies that are partnering with community-based organizations to reimagine streets, implement ideas, and support ongoing community efforts that meet the needs of populations disproportionately harmed by COVID-19. Cities with populations of less than 500,000 that haven’t received federal aid, as well as larger cities targeting interventions in neighborhoods that have historically and continue to be underinvested will be prioritized. Each NACTO member may only submit one application. The deadline for this application is 8:00pm ET on Friday, July 10, 2020.
More information and an application are available here.
TOLLING 2020 is a comprehensive tolling reform package featuring a significant reduction to the initial costs faced by motorists when tolls are left unpaid.
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New Invoice Process – Customers with unpaid tolls will be mailed an invoice with a $3 fee per unpaid toll for passenger vehicles rather than an initial $20 violation, and as always customers can continue to avoid fees completely for at least 14 days by paying online.
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Violation Relief – For the remainder of 2020, the Tollway is reducing all outstanding violations with the Illinois Tollway, and all existing $20 and $50 fines per toll will also be reduced to $3 per toll providing an opportunity for relief to thousands of motorists.
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COVID-19 Relief – Any unpaid tolls that occurred between March 9 and June 25 during the stay-at-home order will not incur additional fines or fees.
Since the Illinois Tollway is still operating all-electronic toll collection to prevent the spread of COVID-19, customers should remember to pay their tolls online to avoid any fines and fees. Customers looking to pay unpaid tolls and violations or looking to learn more about TOLLING 2020 including the new notice guidelines, should visit the Illinois Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.
Click here for the Tolling 2020 Announcement.
Metra will be operating on a reduced service Sunday/holiday schedule on all lines Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5.
Sunday/holiday schedules mean that train service will not operate on the North Central Service, Heritage Corridor, SouthWest Service and the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, as trains do not normally operate on Sundays on those four lines. Metra will return to its current weekday alternate service schedule on Monday, July 6.
For those needing to travel during the holiday weekend, Metra is offering a $10 three-day pass for unlimited travel July 3 through July 5. The pass can be purchased with cash on the train or via the Ventra app, which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play. (Select the “4th of July 3-Day Pass” within the app; do not select the regular “Weekend Pass” or the new “$10 All-Day Pass.”) Monthly Pass holders can use their tickets for unlimited travel across the Metra system July 3 through July 5.
Metra’s Family Fares are also in effect: throughout the summer, up to three kids 11 and under can ride free with each fare-paying adult.
Metra also reminds all riders that face coverings, covering both the mouth and nose, should be worn on board trains during the pandemic per Gov. Pritzker’s executive order. Customers should also try to observe physical distancing guidelines; no more than one person per seat, please,
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