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The Roosevelt Road Streetscape Improvement project broke ground on Friday, September 3, 2010. The event commenced at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Lombard Avenue where the City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero and Village of Oak Park meet.

In addition to local leadership, the event was attended by state and federal officials that helped bring the project to fruition, including Governor Patrick

Pictured (left to right): Village President David Pope, Oak Park; Representative Elizabeth Hernandez (District 24); Paul Zimmermann, BDC President; Senator Kimberly Lightford (District 4); Congressman Danny Davis (IL-7); Elizabeth Dominick; Governor Patrick Quinn; Town President Larry Dominick, Cicero; and Mayor Robert Lovero, Berwyn.

Quinn, U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (IL-7), Senator Kimberly Lightford (District 4), Senator Don Harmon (District 39), and Representative Lisa Hernandez (District 24). The ceremony was followed by a reception at Bodhi Thai Bistro located at 6211 W. Roosevelt Road.

The culmination of more than eight years of planning by Berwyn, Cicero and Oak Park resulted in the appropriation of nearly $7 million in state and federal funding for the improvement of Roosevelt Road, from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard. The three communities will share additional costs, which brings the total value of the improvement to the corridor in excess of $10 million. Mayor Robert J. Lovero commented, “This project was fueled by a common vision between Berwyn, Oak Park, and Cicero to revitalize Roosevelt Road into a unified experience for residents, businesses and visitors. This collaboration is a key step in supporting our diverse entertainment and retail corridor.”

The end result will include upgraded street infrastructure and coordinated amenities such as bike racks, benches, refuse containers and lighting. The Berwyn Development Corporation obtained funding in 2000 through an Illinois Tomorrow Grant, which allowed the City of Berwyn and Village of Oak Park to hire Farr Associates to complete Roosevelt Road’s first comprehensive corridor study. A 2006 intergovernmental agreement between the three municipalities solidified their cooperation. Consultants were then hired to prepare the streetscape plans along with a new form-based code zoning overlay. With the form-based code and the streetscape plans approved by all municipalities, funding was needed to keep the project on track.

Of the obtained funding, $1.2 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be allocated toward road resurfacing and $1.8 million toward other corridor improvements. An additional $25,000 was singled out for bikeway improvements along the corridor through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). Federal funds totaling $3.95 million will go toward the street’s redevelopment. Senator Martin Sandoval (District 12) and Senator Don Harmon (District 39) were instrumental in securing support at the state level and obtaining needed funds from the ITEP program.

In late 2009, the State of Illinois resurfaced Roosevelt Road in preparation for increased traffic from the upcoming Eisenhower Expressway renovations, which began earlier this year. Since the I-290 renovations are substantially complete, the streetscape work on Roosevelt Road can begin. The completion of the streetscape project is scheduled for late 2011.

With the support of all three municipalities, the project intends to unify the Roosevelt Road corridor, which hosts an average of 22,400 vehicles per day. The new and improved streetscape plan includes signage, lighting, street furniture, cross walks and sidewalks in an effort to make the thoroughfare more user-friendly for vehicles, pedestrians and bikes. Alderman Nora Laureto (8^th Ward, Berwyn) stated, “I am excited to finally see this project in action. Roosevelt Road has been heading in a great direction for years and this streetscape is going take us even further.” “The inclusion of high quality infrastructure will protect the long-term health of the street and enhance the city,” added Alderman Cesar Santoy (5^th Ward, Berwyn).

Tags | Berwyn, Cicero, IDOT, Oak Park, Roosevelt Road

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