Freeport moves forward on South Street ADA ramps to leverage state paving funds; Safe Streets plan open for public comment
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Summary
Council approved $250,000 in design work for 16 ADA ramps along South Street so the state (IDOT) will resurface Galena–Locust; the city's draft SS4A safety-action plan is posted for public comment Nov.12–26 with a webinar Nov.19 and a presentation to council on Dec.1.
City Manager Rob Boyer told council that the city has negotiated an arrangement with IDOT that will allow South Street (Galena to Locust) to be resurfaced if the city completes required ADA ramps and associated concrete work. Boyer said staff budgeted approximately $250,000 for ramp design and bidding to unlock an estimated $4–7 million of IDOT paving funds.
“We’ve budgeted about $250,000 to do the ramps, so that was already in the budget. This is just the design work and kind of the bidding process…to get a contractor to do this,” Boyer said. Staff explained the design covers 16 ramps across 8 intersections on the corridor.
Separately, staff reminded the public that Alta Planning & Design’s draft Safe Streets for All (SS4A) safety action plan is posted on the city website for comment from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26; a public webinar is scheduled Nov. 19 and Alta will present the plan to council on Dec. 1. The draft identifies priority projects (the top-ranked project cited by staff is realigning Walnut and Empire) and is intended to make the city eligible for specialized safety funding.
Council adopted the design-contract resolution for the ADA ramps (8–0) and asked that Alta present the SS4A plan in person at the Dec. 1 meeting so residents can hear the plan and ask questions directly.
What’s next: staff will proceed with design and bid documents for the South Street ADA ramps and ask Alta to present the SS4A final plan at the Dec. 1 council meeting.
