More Randall Road Bike, Walking Paths Planned Thanks To $3M Grant

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — More biking and walking options will be available along Randall Road in Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake thanks to a $3 million state grant.

Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced more than $127 million will be awarded to municipalities and county transportation departments throughout the state through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

A McHenry County Division of Transportation project was among 72 projects in Illinois selected to receive funds for biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification and other projects designed to encourage safe travel. In total, the local transportation department will receive $3 million to construct a new sidewalk and shared-use path along Randall Road.

The path, which will be on the east and west sides of Randall Road in Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake, will connect to existing regional bike and pedestrian accommodations north and south of the project limits, according to a news release from Pritzker's office.

Other local projects receiving funds include:

• McHenry: $2.5 million was awarded to the city of McHenry to construct a sidewalk and shared-use path along with road and pedestrian lighting along the east and west side of Illinois Route 31. The path will run from Route 176 to Route 120.
• Crystal Lake: The city of Crystal Lake has been awarded $233,688 to upgrade an existing sidewalk on the west side of Oak Street to a shared-use path and install a new shared-use path in the township section. The path will run along Oak from north of Route 176 to south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
• Huntley: The village of Huntley has been awarded $3 million to construction an 8-foot-wide, shared-use path along the north side of Kreutzer Road for a length of about 6,500 feet to complement the existing transportation system.

Made possible by federal and state funds administered by the Illinois Division of Transportation, Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program awards are focused on improving bike and pedestrian travel, as well as making other surface transportation improvements that promote alternative options for getting around communities. IDOT received 213 applications for projects worth an estimated $337 million for the current cycle. The next call for projects will come in late 2024, with a 2025 award announcement.

All 72 projects selected to receive Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants can be found here.