US DOT Awards $18.8 Million Grant for Cedar Lake Road Realignment Project
Realigning Cedar Lake Road in downtown Round Lake is closer than ever before. The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a $18.8 million RAISE Grant earmarked towards the Cedar Lake Road Realignment and Mobility Improvements Project, marking one of the largest federal investments the County has ever received for a local infrastructure project.
Cedar Lake Road in downtown Round Lake was first studied more than 44 years ago to investigate safety and capacity challenges due to the broken alignment. Since 2012, when this section of Cedar Lake Road was jurisdictionally transferred to Lake County, the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) has worked with local and regional key stakeholders to design a truly multi-modal project that integrates transit, walking and biking improvements for overall mobility.
Proposed improvements include correcting the existing broken alignment of Cedar Lake Road, reconfiguring the railroad station and platform, adding nearly two miles of path to close a gap for the planned Millennium Trail, and upsizing the storm sewer system to alleviate local drainage issues.
Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the $1.8 billion 2024 RAISE Grant Program. The program helps communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. RAISE projects are rigorously reviewed and evaluated on statutory criteria of safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation.
Members of Lake County's Congressional Delegation; Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Sen. Dick Durbin, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, along with 17 local and regional stakeholders sent letters to USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to show support for the Cedar Lake Road project.
The RAISE Grant program is highly competitive with more than 1,000 applications submitted from around the country to the USDOT each year. LCDOT submitted two previous applications before being awarded funding. With this RAISE grant, LCDOT has now secured more than $31 million in federal funding, which is the maximum allowable federal share of the estimated $42 million construction costs. Lake County, the Village of Round Lake, and Metra will all be contributing funding to the project as well.
"We are incredibly grateful to receive a historic amount of funding for this regionally significant project that will improve safety and provide the opportunity to enhance economic development in the downtown Round Lake area," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "We want to provide a sincere thank you to the entire Lake County Congressional Delegation for their tireless advocacy and support at the federal level for all of our residents and communities.”
The project has a quantifiable 13:1 benefit-cost ratio providing $565 million in net benefits which includes the reduction of 312,000 metric tons of CO2 emitted over a 22-year period. The improvements will eliminate 17 vehicle, pedestrian, and train conflict points resulting in an 86 percent reduction in travel delays and a 36 percent decrease in the frequency of crashes. Northbound travel time along Cedar Lake Road will be reduced by 40 to 68 percent during morning and evening peak hours.
“This is one of the largest grants we’ve received for a transportation project and is a tremendous boost to the Round Lake downtown and beyond,” said John Wasik, Chair of the Lake County Board Legislative Committee and Board Member for District 6. “Not only will this resolve some serious, long-standing safety issues, but it will pump more than $40 million into Round Lake for economic development and fund the Forest Preserve’s Millennium Trail expansion."
The Lake County Board regularly works with local legislators on opportunities through its Legislative Committee. Members of the Lake County Board often meet with legislators to advocate for local projects, such as the Cedar Lake Road project.
"Thanks to our great legislative team and our legislative committee," added Wasik. "We could not have done this without the robust support of our Congressional Delegation and local partners. We’re thrilled to be able to bring back tax dollars from Washington, where we went to lobby in person this February and now have an impactful investment coming to our community.”
The project has a dedicated website with information starting from the first public meeting. Learn more at cedarlakeroadrealignment.org.
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