Wilmette Awards Contract For Implementation Of Bike, Pedestrian Plan

WILMETTE, IL — Civil engineers are due to begin work this month on plans for the next steps of Wilmette's active transportation plan.

Village trustees last week awarded a $29,116 contract with Itasca-based Civiltech Engineering for the next five months of engineering services as part of the Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan, or MBATP.

Civiltech will come up with an implementation plan for the next five years, including exploring any possible tweaks to current plans for improvements through 2027 and developing any new plans for implementation in 2028 and 2029, according to a memo from village engineering staff.

The firm is also tasked with drawing up plans for installing a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at the intersection of Ridge Road and Highland Avenue.

The contract also calls for the development of a comprehensive map of bicycle and walking routes in Wilmette.

---

Civiltech, which also developed the village's MBATP in the first place, underbid the other two proposals by more than $12,000, according to staff.

After agreeing to the engineering services contract, the village board still has nearly $280,000 available for the implementation of projects scheduled for the rest of the year.

Another flashing pedestrian beacon is planned for Wilmette Avenue at 15th Street, according to village staff.

Other improvements also approved by village transportation officials last year include the design of shared-use paths at Skokie Boulevard, from Lake Avenue to Illinois Road, and along the Skokie Valley Trail, as well as engineering studies for Green Bay Road throughout the village, Lake Avenue from Green Bay to Sheridan roads, Ridge Road to Elmwood Avenue, Hibbard Road, Wilmette Avenue and Glenview Road,