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Geneva advances East State Street project: joint funding agreement and construction-phase engineering approved
Summary
Council approved a Joint Funding Agreement to proceed toward construction and authorized Bollinger, Lock & Associates for final phase engineering for the East State Street corridor project; council discussed bid results and a funding gap and heard staff outline multiple funding sources under negotiation with IDOT.
The Geneva City Council on April 21 moved forward on the long-running East State Street reconstruction by approving a joint funding agreement (JFA) with the State of Illinois and by authorizing a professional services agreement with Bollinger, Lock & Associates (BLA) for Phase 3 engineering.
Why it matters: The East State Street project is a major multi-year corridor reconstruction funded by federal, state and local sources. Council members heard that bids exceeded the engineer's estimate by several million dollars, prompting discussion about additional grant applications and budget strategies to close the shortfall without unduly burdening Geneva taxpayers.
What the council approved: A JFA enabling federally funded construction work was approved; the JFA currently reflects engineer estimates and will be amended as final unit prices become available. Council also voted to award Phase 3 engineering to BLA in the amount of $2,265,474 to support construction through anticipated three-year work (2025-27). Votes were unanimous.
Funding questions and context: Staff reported that the project's low bid to the Illinois Department of Transportation came in at roughly $30.16 million versus an engineer estimate near $24.2 million. Current federal and state grants secured total roughly $15 million, leaving Geneva with an estimated local share of about $9.1 million before any additional awards. Geneva has applied for an additional $3 million in grant funding (ITEP) and is pursuing other sources, including residual land-acquisition funds and potential additional STP allocations, to reduce the city's local obligation. Staff noted negotiations with IDOT and other agencies remain ongoing.
Project scope and schedule: The corridor is an FAU route connecting Route 38 to Randall Road; planned improvements include upgraded bicycle facilities, sidewalk and ADA work, and utility relocations. Staff said the work was expected to begin with utility relocations and that construction will likely stretch over three seasons, which can help spread costs across budget years.
What council asked staff to do: Members requested additional detail on funding scenarios, unit prices once IDOT releases bid tabs, and specific prioritization of elements such as streetscape amenities vs. utilities. Staff said they would return with a refined financial plan and continue negotiations with IDOT and other grant providers.
Outcome and next steps: The council's approvals allow engineering work to proceed into construction oversight, and staff will continue pursuing additional grant funding and bring updated budget recommendations to council as unit prices and partner commitments are finalized.
