Proposed Streetscape Projects Presented to City Council
On Monday, March 26, City staff presented the Evanston City Council plans for streetscape projects on Dodge Ave. at Lake St., on Church St. and on Orrington Ave. at Church St. The plans presented included streetscape design, protected bike path (cycle track) design and sidewalk furniture and pedestrian lighting concepts.
In October 2011, the City Council approved the resurfacing of Church Street and improving the Church Street Streetscape to include the construction of a bike path.
Additionally, in February 2012, the City Council approved a modification to the 2012 Capitol Improvement Program (CIP) which included improvements to the streetscape on the corner of Dodge and Lake Avenues and the east side of Orrington Avenue between Church and Davis Streets.
Funding for the project is provided by the West Evanston TIF in the amount of $560,000, Washington National TIF in the amount $1,260,000, and the Capital Improvement Fund in the amount of $530,000.
View the presentation here>>>
Dodge & Lake Streetscape Project
On the southeast corner, a plaza would be developed that would include a bus shelter and a seating wall. The design includes the use of sustainable or “green” elements: a porous concrete sidewalk, rain gardens and the reuse of brick pavers in the construction of the seating wall.
The purpose of the rain garden is to catch storm water runoff. The water is then filtered and cleaned as it passes through the soil thus reducing water pollution.
Plans are expected to be finalized in April with construction work occurring June to mid-August during the school summer break.
Click image above for larger view
Church St. Streetscape Project
The Public Works Department is in the final stages of preparing plans to construct a protected bicycle path (cycle track) that will run along Church Street from the McCormick Blvd. Bicycle Path connecting to the Lakefront Bicycle Path.
The protected bicycle path will separate bicycle traffic from vehicular traffic using different pavement markings, upright lane separators and parking reconfigurations. This provides for a safer cycling experience as bicyclists will not be traveling alongside vehicles.
In addition, by placing the cycle track in between parked cars and the sidewalk, car-dooring on the driver’s side is avoided and conflicts between vehicles pulling in and out of parking spaces is eliminated.
The city held an online voting contest for one week in March in which residents were invited to vote on their favorite color for the bike path. Jade was the color that won the most support and the color diamantina was the runner-up. Other choices were tan, turquoise and green. Nearly 700 votes were cast in the survey.
The project will include sidewalk brick replacement, street resurfacing, a protected bike path, bike shelter, 
sidewalk furniture and pedestrian lighting. The design includes the use of sustainable or “green” elements: the reuse of brick pavers, the installation of rain gardens around trees and in the plaza area at Orrington Ave., as well as the use of LED pedestrian lighting.
The plans for the Dodge Ave. to Ashland Ave. portion of the project will be finalized in April and construction will take place from mid-June to mid-August.
The plans for the Ridge Ave. to Chicago Ave. section will be finalized in June and construction will take place from August to October. Roadway work will allow for the use of one eastbound lane throughout the project. The north side streetscape portion of the project will allow for only two blocks to be under construction at a time maintaining access to half the sidewalk width and the use of bridges to businesses. The south side will follow at a later time.
Click images above for larger view
Orrington Ave. Streetscape Project
The Orrington Ave. streetscape project will be between Church and Davis Streets on the east side only. The project will include sidewalk brick replacement, street furniture, bike shelter and pedestrian lighting.
The project plans will be finalized in June and construction will run from September to October.
Click image above for larger view
2013 and Beyond
The City of Evanston will be completing remaining elements of some of the above projects as well as others throughout the city:
- Complete bike path connection on Church Street to the Lakefront Bike Path and McCormick Bike Path
- Complete Davis Street Streetscape, Street Resurfacing and west bound Protected Bike Path
- Complete Main Street Streetscape Improvement and Resurfacing
- Identify other streets for protected bike path
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Continue streetscape enhancements city-wide