Village officials recently traveled to the
nation's capital to personally convey Oak Park's
continued concerns about the potential impact of the Illinois
Department of Transportation's future plans to expand the
I-290 Eisenhower Expressway. Meeting also with Congressman
Danny K. Davis and U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Village
officials updated federal legislators on the RTA transit
alternatives study for the I-290/I-88 multimodal transportation
corridor, and the Cap the IKE Feasibility Study. Village officials thanked Senator Durbin for his
assistance in securing an additional $1 million in federal
funds to continue studying the Ike cap. Congress is in the
midst of renewing multi-year surface transportation legislation
that will govern highway and transit spending over the next six
years. In their meetings with federal legislators, Village
officials shared Oak Park's position on provisions in the
bill that would potentially impact future decisions concerning
reconstruction of the Eisenhower Expressway, including the
Village's support for a number of studies of potential
transit alternatives to expansion. Village officials also
requested additional funding for the design of transit
improvements to the Blue Line stations serving Oak Park, a very
high priority identified by the community as part of the Cap the Ike study. For
more information on the Village's efforts to represent
the community on Eisenhower expansion issues call 358.5770 or
email village@oak-park.us. Information also is available at www.oak-park.us -- click on the News tab and look
for the I-290 button along the right margin.
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A Village program to help residents near
Barrie Park pay for property improvements deferred by the
multi-year clean-up of the remains of a 19th century gas
manufacturing plant has received a significant financial boost
from the utility companies. Commonwealth Edison and Nicor Inc.,
whose parent company once operated the long-defunct facility in
what is now Barrie Park, will give the Village $7,500 for each
property whose owner participates in the Village's Barrie Park Investment Program -- up to $700,000. The utility companies’
participation is not tied to the park or neighborhood
remediation program. The Village asked the utility companies to
participate to help stimulate investment in the area’s
housing stock and return the vibrancy to the neighborhood. The
Village program offers a $15,000 grant that does not have to be
repaid and a $15,000 interest-free loan that does not have to
be repaid until property ownership is transferred. The funds
are intended for property improvements, both interior and
exterior. Owners of about 40 of the more than 100 eligible
residential properties have elected to participate in the
Village-funded program since it was created last May. The
program likely will remain active through 2005 and the number
of participants is expected to grow over the months ahead. For
information on eligibility and the application process, call
358.5424 or email comsvcs@oak-park.us. Information also is posted
at www.oak-park.us -- click on the News tab and look for the Barrie Park icon along the
right margin.
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Daily at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m.,
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• VOP-TV6
Edition of OP/FYI
• Mulching
Parkway Trees
• Pothole
Repairs
• 2005
Budget Message
• Cap the
Ike Update
Regular Village Board Meetings
Live at 7:30 p.m. first and third Mondays,
rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. Thursdays and
Saturdays.
Trustee Gus Kostopulos (left) and
President Joanne E. Trapani with U.S. Senator Barack Obama in
Washington, D.C.
