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Mount Vernon launches Bicycle and Multi‑Use Trails study, seeks public input
Summary
Mount Vernon officials on Aug. 30 launched a new Bicycle and Multi‑Use Trails study led by consultant i5Group and coordinated through Greater Egypt Regional Planning. A public survey is open through Sept. 30 and the consultant will host outreach at Market Days on Sept. 9 to shape a replacement for the city’s 2004 plan.
Mount Vernon city officials opened a workshop Aug. 30 to introduce a new Bicycle and Multi‑Use Trails study and invite public feedback.
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel said the effort, coordinated through the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission and led by consulting firm i5Group, is intended to produce an updated Bicycle Master Plan that will replace the city’s 2004 plan and help support future grant applications. "The City is just getting started by conducting this study and will be in touch with Representative Severin and applying for grants," Bechtel said, adding that the study is important for grant applications.
During public comment, resident Bob White urged the council to prioritize bike infrastructure, saying, "The City needs bike paths. It is dangerous to ride on the City streets." Bob Watt, another resident, said it is challenging to find a safe place to ride and supported efforts to make streets safer for cyclists.
Stephen Ibendahl of i5Group outlined a three‑phase planning process: an initial phase documenting existing conditions (including a public survey), a second phase to analyze additional routes and feasibility, and a third phase to generate a final plan and route recommendations. Ibendahl said the consultant team and an advisory committee of local bicyclists have been meeting and that i5Group will conduct outreach at Market Days in Veterans Park on Sept. 9. The public survey is open through Sept. 30 and is available on the city website and at mtvernonbikeplan.com.
Council members and staff discussed funding and timing: Ibendahl and staff noted that Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) repaving and restriping projects can create opportunities to add bike facilities when streets are resurfaced. Bechtel said staff will pursue grant funding as opportunities arise and use the study to strengthen applications.
No formal policy decisions were taken at the workshop; after the discussion the council adjourned. The City Manager and i5Group encouraged residents to complete the online survey by Sept. 30 and to speak with consultants at Market Days on Sept. 9 for more information.
