The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways has announced an 8th round of Invest in Cook, an $8.5 million grant program to help local governments and agency partners further their transportation projects by covering some of the cost of planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction associated with transportation improvements.
Donor Name: Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways
State: Illinois
County: Cook County (IL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/22/2024
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
This program seeks projects consistent with the five priorities of Connecting Cook County, the County’s first long range transportation plan in 75 years, as well as the recommendations of more specialized Cook County transportation plans.
Invest in Cook grants help municipalities further their transportation projects by covering the cost of planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local governments and private partners. Past projects funded by Invest in Cook have gone on to receive $3.00 of local, state or federal funding for every $1.00 of Invest in Cook awards. This program is designed to solicit applications for improvements consistent with the five priorities of Connecting Cook County, the County’s first long-range transportation plan in 75 years, which guides how the County invests in transportation to attract and retain businesses, people, capital and talent. Invest in Cook grants advance the Vital Communities, Sustainable Communities and Smart Communities priorities laid out in the Cook County Policy Roadmap.
Invest in Cook seeks projects consistent with the priorities detailed in Connecting Cook County that:
- Prioritize transit and other transportation alternatives
- Support the region’s role as North America’s freight capital
- Promote equal access to opportunities
- Maintain and modernize what already exists
- Increase investments in transportation.
Priorities
The IIC grant program is one avenue DoTH uses to implement Connecting Cook County, the County’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The plan takes stock of the County’s transportation assets, deficiencies, and future needs and measures them against the community and economic opportunities that transportation can facilitate. The LRTP outlines a new direction and a more expansive role for the County in funding and collaborating on projects across jurisdictional boundaries and in achieving greater integration of the system across all transportation modes.
- Prioritize Transit and Other Transportation Alternatives – A sustainable mobility network requires complementary modes of transportation that satisfy transit, cycling, and pedestrian needs. An efficient transit system is a signifier of a world class metropolitan region and providing a complete and fully accessible cycling/pedestrian mobility system is also integral to a high quality of life. Projects selected for Invest in Cook grants will improve the transit networks and allow communities to place greater emphasis on walking, biking, and other alternatives to driving.
- Support the Region’s Role as North America’s Freight Capital – Freight plays a critical role in Cook County’s economy and its continued prosperity. It has also made the Chicago region the largest chokepoint for both trucks and trains in the national freight system. Projects selected for Invest in Cook grants will focus on improving rail and truck movements through the region and on coordinating land uses in proximity to freight transportation facilities, among other freight supportive activities.
- Promote Equal Access to Opportunities – A transportation network should facilitate easy connections to jobs, schools, healthcare centers, recreation, and much more. Historical economic development practices and land use regulation meant that the opportunities afforded by access to a robust transportation system are not guaranteed by Cook County’s current built environment. Projects selected for Invest in Cook grants will address these inequities by targeting transportation investments in in disadvantaged communities, and through partnerships with other agencies that make equity a priority in their work.
- Maintain and Modernize What Already Exists – Postponing regular maintenance adds to long-term costs, reduces the appeal of public transit services, causes delay and congestion, creates safety hazards, and makes transportation more expensive for users. Projects selected for Invest in Cook grants will help communities modernize their local transportation networks and/or provide regionally significant improvements for the changing needs of 21st century.
- Increase Investments in Transportation – Increased investments in the region’s transportation network is critical to its economic success. Flexible and more reliable investments in transportation will help the economy grow and make communities more livable. Projects selected for Invest in Cook grants will leverage local resources to support infrastructure and using state and federal funds to implement transportation improvements.
Eligible Projects
The following is a representative, but not exhaustive, list of the types of projects eligible for funding under the Invest in Cook Program:
- Transit Improvement Projects
- Transit Studies and Needs Assessments
- Transit Facility Improvements or Equipment Improvements
- Fleet Retrofits
- Paratransit Opportunities
- Transit Service Enhancements or Improving Transit Accessibility
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Projects
- Bicycle or Pedestrian Master Planning
- Adding Bike Lanes
- Traffic Calming/Road Diets
- Multi-Use Trails
- Filling Sidewalk Gaps
- Intersection Safety Improvements
- ADA-Related Improvements
- Freight Projects
- Truck Route Planning
- Increased Viaduct Clearance
- Safety Improvements to Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
- Roadway-Rail Grade Separations
- Roadway Improvements on Truck Routes and High Truck Traffic Road Segments
- Railroad Improvements
- Environmental Needs Assessments
- Traffic Flow Improvement Projects
- Eliminating Bottlenecks
- Intersection Improvements and Modernization
- Interconnected Signal Technologies
- Bridge Improvements
- Demonstration Projects for New Technology
- First Mile/Last Mile Gap Studies
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
- Service Improvements to Existing Routes
- Corridor Studies
- Economic Development Projects
- Transit Oriented Development Plans
- Transportation Improvements to Support Local Business Districts
- Local Comprehensive Transportation Plans
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies as well as any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for transportation or recreational trails within Cook County. Private for-profit or nonprofit organizations can submit project proposals as a lead applicant, but they are required to partner with a public sponsor that meets the above criteria. Municipal and Township applicants are limited to a single project application. Due to funding source limitations, the program cannot consider proposals for electric vehicle infrastructure at this time. Staff salaries, the purchase and/or maintenance of rolling stock (rail cars buses, vans, etc.) and stand-alone lighting projects are not an eligible expense under the Invest in Cook program.
For more information, visit CCDTH.
