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Council approves amendment to Church Street pedestrian-and-bicycle design; members pressed on funding sources
Summary
The committee approved Amendment #3 to the Civiltech Engineering contract for Church Street pedestrian and bicycle improvements; staff said the project was in the CIP and will use rolled 2026 general obligation bonds after IDOT delays, and staff explained why motor fuel tax could not be used for phase 2 design/construction.
The committee voted to approve Amendment No. 3 with Civiltech Engineering (RFQ 20-21) for Church Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements. Staff told the committee the project had been identified in the adopted CIP for 2025 general obligation bonds but IDOT processing delays shifted work, so funding will be rolled into 2026 general obligation bond authorization.
Council member Kelly and others asked why the project listed 2025 and 2027 bond sources when no 2025 bond proceeds were issued. Staff replied that projects are often identified by the year in the CIP when they were expected to begin and that the city plans to use 2026 GO bond authorization to cover the work; staff said a small remaining amount could be allocated from the 2027 CIP as planning proceeds.
Kelly also asked about the motor fuel tax (MFT) balance. Staff said the larger figure shown in IDOT materials (about $21 million) represents amounts IDOT has allocated to Evanston but are not yet within the city’s MFT account for use; the city’s internal MFT account balance as of Dec. 31 is roughly $7.76 million, with roughly $5.3 million encumbered, leaving an unobligated balance closer to $2.5 million. Staff explained MFT rules require that MFT be identified for the construction phase of a project before it can fund phase-2 design.
The motion to approve the amendment passed on roll call.
