Manhattan approves $124,500 safety study and $25,000 engineering for Route 52 corridor

The Village of Manhattan board approved two measures aimed at improving safety along Route 52: a consulting contract with Farnsworth Group to produce a Route 52 Safety Action Plan and a phase‑one engineering agreement with Robinson Engineering to study a multi‑use path.

Mayor (speaker 1) told the board the village secured a $100,000 federal Safe Streets for All grant with a $25,000 local match and recommended contracting Farnsworth Group. "We have a local match of 25,000 And this is to conduct a safety plan for the Route 52 corridor through Manhattan," the mayor said. The board approved the Farnsworth Group agreement by roll call after a motion and second.

Trustee (speaker 5) asked whether the study would consider golf‑cart access to event areas, noting frequent cart use during events; the mayor said the scope is to analyze traffic calming and safety for pedestrians and vehicles and that further policy discussion would be needed about motorized vehicles on forest preserve paths. The transcript records that the village believes most of the right of way is already held by IDOT but that easement research is needed for the multi‑use path.

Robinson Engineering was approved to complete phase‑one engineering work for the multi‑use path at a cost of $25,000. The mayor described the planned route as running from Foxford Drive to the Brown Barn with a future connection to the Old Plain Trail and Wapansi, noting some right‑of‑way and easement work will be required. Both funding approvals passed by unanimous roll-call votes.