Money Sought For Elmhurst Sidewalk Engineering

ELMHURST, IL – Three Elmhurst aldermen are asking for city money to be earmarked for the engineering of sidewalks on the northeast side of town.

The money would be targeted for sidewalks along Crestview Avenue in 2024, Indiana Street in 2025 and Van Auken Street in 2026. The streets are in northeast Elmhurst, which has the fewest sidewalks in town, though neighbors are divided over whether they need them.

The streets in question are considered important for students walking to school.

In March, the City Council voted to direct its staff to look for outside money to pay for safe routes to school in northeast Elmhurst. That was a shift in the city's longtime policy of requiring residents in a neighborhood to cover half the costs of installing sidewalks.

The aldermen making the latest request are Chris Jensen and Michael Bram of northeast Ward 3 and Mike Brennan of southwest Ward 7.

The three aldermen want the city to re-examine other designated Safe Routes to School previously considered for sidewalks.

At Monday's City Council meeting, aldermen are set to vote on whether to send the trio's request to the council's Public Works Committee for a review.