Sidewalk Assessment
North Central Illinois Council of Governments
Rural Sidewalk Assessment Program
North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG) (www.ncicg.org) has received rural planning funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to develop and implement a free sidewalk assessment program for a limited number of communities with populations of 5,000 or less that are members of NCICG.
Program Goals
Most rural communities lack or have limited financial and human resources to carry out planning activities. Assessing sidewalks is not often a high priority planning activity. However, a safe and complete sidewalk network provides several benefits to communities including improving mobility and walkability for all residents and visitors, encouraging healthy lifestyles, serving recreational uses, and promoting commerce and economic development.
The goals of NCICG’s Rural Sidewalk Assessment Program are as follows:
- Support the economic vitality of north central Illinois: Walkable communities help encourage the use of pedestrian networks and can help revitalize a downtown, increase private investment, increase property values, and promote tourism. “Growing bodies of research connects higher property values and economically sound communities to better walkability and closer proximity among certain neighborhood destinations, including houses, parks, schools, businesses, services and social places. Main Street can benefit economically from good sidewalks and the ability to easily and safely visit shops, restaurants, and local services”. [i]
- Identify pedestrian needs in target communities in north central Illinois.
- Increase the safety of the pedestrian system for all users.
- Increase accessibility and mobility options available to the public.
- Emphasize preservation of the existing sidewalk network by improving management and operations, creating programs for sharing costs with residents, and fixing trouble spots.
- Foster efficient and effective pedestrian transportation, thereby improving quality of life in the community.
Eligibility & Process
Eligible communities for NCICG’s Rural Sidewalk Assessment Program include current member communities of NCICG, communities located in NCICG’s service area that have populations of 5,000 or less, and communities that have sidewalks.
Eligible communities that are interested in the Rural Sidewalk Assessment Program may visit www.ncicg.org for an application of contact NCICG at (815) 433-5830. Grant applications will be reviewed for completeness. Incomplete applications or those lacking sufficient details will not be selected.
NCICG will accept applications for the program until March 17, 2017. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications may be submitted by email, mail, or fax to the following:
Dianna Tuftie: dtuftie@ncicg.org
North Central Illinois Council of Governments
613 West Marquette Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
Fax: (815) 433-5832
Rural Planning funds from IDOT will enable NCICG to complete 10-15 community sidewalk assessments. If more applications are received than funding will allow, communities will be selected at random.
Communities that are selected to receive a sidewalk assessment will be required to adopt a Resolution of Participation.
NCICG will meet with the officials of selected communities to define a work plan and discuss any pertinent details relating to their sidewalk needs.
Timeframe
Selected communities will be notified by NCICG by March 31, 2017. Sidewalk assessments will occur during Summer-Fall 2017. A Sidewalk Assessment Report and Improvement Plan will then be drafted for each selected community. Plans will be completed and presented to the communities for adoption in Spring/Summer 2018.
Cost
Rural Planning funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will cover the costs of completing the community sidewalk assessments. Communities will not be billed for any services provided by NCICG related to the Rural Sidewalk Assessment Program. Communities will be expected to periodically meet with NCICG staff throughout the process, attend public meetings, and provide information when necessary. The community will not be reimbursed by NCICG or IDOT for staff time worked during the assessment process.
Deliverables
Upon completion of the sidewalk assessments, NCICG will prepare a Sidewalk Assessment Report and Improvement Plan for each of the selected communities. The report will identify the condition of all public sidewalks within the municipality noting any displacement, cracking, spalling, obstructions, gaps, basic compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other apparent issues. Suggestions and examples of funding mechanisms for the maintenance of public sidewalks will be provided.
[i] Julia O’Hanlon, Jacquelyn Scott, “Healthy Communities: The Walkability Assessment Tool,” Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, (2010), 1.
Application
[i] Julia O’Hanlon, Jacquelyn Scott, “Healthy Communities: The Walkability Assessment Tool,” Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, (2010), 1.
