Next Monday, the Park Forest Public Works Department will start its road work construction season, covering over two miles of Village roadways.

In total, 11 streets are scheduled to be under construction for several months. Additionally, the Forest Boulevard Project, which stems from a partnership between the Village and Cook County, is slated to start later this summer. Park Forest has received $3 million in grant funding from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) to reconstruct Forest Boulevard, including removing the southbound section within the Village's Downtown.

How does Park Forest determine which street will get a makeover?

Public Works Assistant Director Nick Christie emphasized that the department must consider several factors when planning road work: costs, road quality, and prior utility work. He explained that the selection process is informed by a study conducted in 2019, in which Park Forest participated in a comprehensive Village-wide Pavement Assessment Report.

Funded by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), this report evaluated the current conditions of all roads maintained by the Village and identified future maintenance and rehabilitation needs. It also examined existing funding sources and analyzed future funding requirements to implement the proposed plan. The findings indicated that 77% of Village roads, including those scheduled for construction this year, were rated as being in fair to serious condition.

Christie noted that sometimes a street could be in "fair" condition but still receive a makeover if utility work has been, or will be, done. For example, if a water main under a street is being replaced, the street will be repaved as part of that project, addressing two issues simultaneously. However, he said sometimes that's not always the case if funding isn't available.

How much does road work cost, and who pays for it?

Christie stated that the cost of repaving a street in Illinois can be complex and varies significantly based on several factors. These factors include the size of the project, the type of pavement used, and whether the street is residential or commercial. Typically, the cost of repaving a residential road ranges from $1 million to $3 million per mile for a two-lane, undivided road.

The current project, which will cover 11 streets in the Village, is projected to cost $4 million and cover roughly two miles of roadway.

Christie explained that Park Forest uses a combination of funding sources to finance street repaving projects, including grant funding and local revenue. The Village has recently secured grants from state and federal agencies to help offset costs for numerous street reconstruction projects. Additionally, they utilize the Village's general fund and revenue from the motor fuel tax.

In some cases, grant programs require a local match. For instance, the Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) will usually mandate a 20% local match for project construction costs, according to Christie. The Village also contributes to the cost of street repaving through its general fund and motor fuel tax revenue.

What streets are receiving work this construction season?

Christie announced that a total of 11 streets will be reconstructed this season. On Monday, April 21, they will begin repaving New Salem, Herndon, Gentry, and Monitor in the East Lincolnwood neighborhood. The remaining streets scheduled for reconstruction include Tomahawk, Topeka, Nauvoo (west of Shabbona), Somonauk (west of Shabbona), Seneca, Onarga, and Marquette (from Orchard to Oswego).