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Trustees approve 2026 MFT street contract after residents press for separated bike lanes
Summary
The board approved a $2026 MFT street construction contract but removed and then debated item E after residents and Safe Streets Alliance members urged protected bike lanes or physical separation between parking and bike space; staff said rebidding would delay timely MFT-funded work.
The Village Board approved a resolution awarding the 2026 MFT Street Construction contract after public commenters asked the board to require protected bike lanes rather than shared bike/parking lanes.
Resident Michael Moon (speaker 21) and Rob Brodekki of the Safe Streets Alliance urged the board to amend the contract to include physical separation between vehicle parking and bicycle lanes, citing dooring risks and family safety. "The combined bicycle parking configuration forces the bicyclist then to swerve into traffic to avoid the potential of being doored," Moon said.
Director Paperniak and staff explained the design process and said the shared bike/parking configuration had previously been installed on a temporary basis after consultation with the Bike & Pedestrian Committee; staff also said the project was bid to current specifications and that redesign and rebidding would likely prevent construction this year and might affect the village's MFT fuel-tax allocation.
Trustees pressed staff on opportunities to add separated paths where right-of-way exists and on whether the Bike & Pedestrian Committee had been involved. Paperniak said the committee had been consulted years ago and the temporary striping informed the current plan; segments between Weber Drive and Wilkie are intended to include separate multi-use paths where right-of-way allows.
After discussion, Trustee Lebeds moved to approve the contract for 2026 MFT Street Construction; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call.
What happened next: the board said public works and the Bike & Pedestrian Committee will continue to evaluate options and incorporate separated facilities where feasible as future reconstructions occur. Staff noted that MFT funding is time-sensitive and that not spending the money this year would defer the project and potentially increase future costs.
