Chicago Construction News staff writer
Evanston’s plans to revamp Chicago Avenue with a protected bike lane and other infrastructure improvements have received a significant federal boost. The city has secured $10.06 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the project.
The Chicago Avenue Multimodal Corridor Improvements Project, in development since 2020, is currently in its second of three pre-construction engineering phases, led by consultant A. Epstein & Sons. The project will extend the street’s existing two-way bike lane, which currently ends at Davis Street, by 1.9 miles to the city’s border with Chicago. In addition, the project includes upgrades to the roadway, traffic signals, bus stops, sidewalks, and crosswalks.
“The Chicago Avenue project is a huge investment in Evanston’s transportation network,” City Engineer Lara Biggs said in a news release Friday. “By prioritizing safety and accessibility, we are creating a corridor that serves everyone, whether you walk, bike, take transit, or drive.”
The goals of this project include:
- Create a Complete Street for multimodal Transportation including walking and biking
- Improve safety for all users
- Focus on transit access areas for CTA, Metra, Pace, and the Northwestern Shuttle
- Incorporate Streetscape & Activate Public Space
- Upgrade utilities improvements
- Roadway Resurfacing
The federal grant builds on a $3 million award from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced in May, bringing the project’s total funding to roughly $13 million—covering more than 90% of the estimated $14 million cost. Additional funding could come from the city’s Capital Improvement Fund, Sewer Fund, and the Chicago-Main TIF district, according to a September 2024 staff memo.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 in partnership with IDOT. Public discussion over the project briefly intensified in December 2024, when some residents and business owners expressed concerns that the new bike lane could reduce street parking. In response, planners adjusted the lane layout to preserve existing parking and add two new spaces along the corridor. The Downtown Evanston business district has also publicly endorsed the plan.
