Lisle’s FY2025–26 capital plan targets Burlington Avenue reconstruction, floodplain acquisitions and street rehabilitation

Assistant Public Works Director Hall and Deputy Village Manager Mitchell walked trustees through the village’s five‑year capital improvement program (CIP) during the Feb. 17 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Staff said the five‑year CIP lists roughly $48.9 million in infrastructure and equipment projects; the fiscal year 2025–26 portion totals about $13.1 million. Hall said road improvements represent approximately 34% (or 50% of next fiscal year’s projects as presented in the slides) of the village’s next‑year plan, stormwater around 22–24% and water system improvements roughly 15–19%, with remaining funds allocated to sanitary sewer, equipment and facility improvements.

Major FY2025–26 projects and staff estimates included:

- Burlington Avenue reconstruction: staff presented a $6.1 million budget that includes complete road reconstruction, curb and gutter, storm sewer and water main replacement. Hall said the design phase is budgeted and a Surface Transportation Program grant of $2,557,624 offsets a portion of construction costs; design work was budgeted at $275,000 in FY2025–26. Planned construction commencement was described as spring 2026 with final completion spring 2027.

- Floodplain property acquisition and demolition: a $2,000,000 program to acquire and demolish voluntary purchases within the floodplain per village floodplain policy, with anticipated work May 2025–April 2026.

- 2024 Street rehabilitation program: $1,400,000 for grinding/resurfacing, concrete curb repair and ADA improvements (June 2025–March 2026 completion noted).

- Sleepy Hollow water main replacement: $590,000 to be coordinated with the annual road rehabilitation program (June 2025–Oct. 2025).

Hall explained project scoring and prioritization (eight factors) and funding sources: roughly 19% general fund, 19% grants, 18% water/sewer revenues, 11% utility tax, 10% motor fuel tax and the remainder from CIP fund balance. Staff said some projects listed in planning documents remain unfunded — Hall and Mitchell estimated approximately $85,000,000 in approved but unfunded long‑range projects (stormwater master plan, North Connector bike path, bicycle/pedestrian plan, downtown streetscape maintenance and others). Over the five‑year forecast staff proposed funding $13.6 million of capital projects from reserves, which would lower but not exhaust present reserve levels in staff projections.

Trustees asked about sequencing, grant opportunities, and whether facilities and roof replacements (smaller projects) were included in the CIP. Staff said facilities work over $20,000 is included in the CIP and that some items under $300,000 are listed in the slide deck (roof replacement, chipper replacement, sanitary vacuum trailer, sidewalk installation on Division Street and sanitary sewer lining). Staff also said sidewalks and Safe Routes to School work were considered after a prior unsuccessful grant application; Division Street sidewalk work is in the village budget for FY2025–26.

Why it matters: the CIP determines which infrastructure projects are built and when, and trustees emphasized the need to balance reserve drawdowns with grants and long‑term fiscal sustainability when scheduling multi‑year projects.