One of the most active, effective and positive contributors to the quality of life in our neck of the woods is one you don’t often hear about or read about but maybe ought to be sent a thank-you note once in awhile.

Chaired by Mayor Jeffery Schielke of Batavia, the Kane Kendall Council of Mayors announced in its January/February 2016 newsletter that it has awarded more than $19 million in Surface Transportation Program funding — including $13 million for roads in Kane County.

The call was initially announced months ago, and the new program was adopted at the December KKCOM meeting.

KKCOM directly programs nearly $8 million of STP per year to municipalities within Kane and Kendall counties while keeping a five-year, $38.5 million program that is adopted by both the KKCOM Transportation Committee and the KKCOM full council.

This call was different than calls in the past in that the $2.5 million cap was removed, and projects already in the KKCOM STP program were allowed to apply for additional funds. Resurfacing projects were also allowed to submit applications to be ranked on KKCOM’s B-List.

All together, KKCOM staff received applications for 17 new projects, seven projects already in the program and 14 resurfacing projects, for a total request of more than $95 million in STP funding.

The new KKCOM STP program includes funding for five projects existing in the program and six new projects.

CHART SOURCE: KKCOM newsletter

About the KKCOM

The Council of Mayors was established through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to provide a forum for early public involvement and partnership in the various transportation plans and projects developed for Northeastern Illinois.

The eleven sub regional councils, one of which is the Kane / Kendall Council of Mayors, are responsible for programming federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for transportation improvements each year and are key players in the development of the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Regional Transportation Plan. For more information, visit the KKCOM website.

CMAP ‘Next Plan’ Launch

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is officially kicking off development of metropolitan Chicago’s next comprehensive regional plan with an open-house event from 9:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at CMAP office, 233 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 800, Chicago, IL.

At this event you’ll learn the new plan’s name and be able to tell CMAP what you want the plan to accomplish. CMAP staff will describe research that has begun and capture your thoughts about how to build on current regional plan “GO TO 2040” in pursuit of sustainable economic prosperity and quality of life.

Read More From KKCOM and KDOT

• Kane and Northern Kendall Public Bike Map
• Bike Planning Map
• Bicycle Funding Opportunities Memo
• 2003 Fox River Trail Signage Program
• Fox River Trail Sign Inventory
• Map of Fox River Trail Sign Inventory
• Fox River Trail Signage Update Outreach
• KK COM January/February 2016 Newsletter