Suburbs eyeing Northwest Highway bike path, new si

New cycling paths and signage could pop up in communities in the northwest suburbs, as long as they can find funding to put newly-devised bicycle projects in place.

The Northwest Municipal Conference recently approved plans to create a connected bike path that runs relatively parallel to the Northwest Highway, connecting the Metra stops and downtowns of Barrington, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines and Park Ridge.

“The corridor will dramatically improve bicycle access for residents to local downtowns, Metra stations and other regional destinations,” said Des Plaines Mayor Martin Moylan, who is also chair of the NWMC’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee that developed the plans.

The NWMC, which represents 42 communities in the northwest suburbs, also approved a bicycle signage plan that would put signs often seen in Chicago along bicycle routes in the suburbs.

The plans are still conceptual at this point because none have secured funding yet, said Michael Walczak, program manager for transportation at NWMC and a member of the Arlington Heights bicycle commission.

The plans are not meant to be rolled out at the same time, but instead complete piece-by-piece as funding becomes available and timing is right.

For example, part of the plans involve creating a bike path connecting the Arlington Park Metra station to other bike paths near Rohlwing Road. That will happen as part of an unrelated roads project west of the station.

The NWMC has also identified various issues that would crop up as the plans move forward, including right-of-way problems where they would work with other agencies such as the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In Arlington Heights, the organization would have to work with Metra to develop plans to continue the bike path around or through some of its commuter parking lots.

The plan also identifies the barriers that will be faced throughout the corridor by bicyclists, including challenges navigating pedestrian-heavy downtown areas and getting across railroad track crossings. The committee was also concerned with the safety of various intersections within the corridor.

It might be a while before bicycle enthusiasts see any signs or new pathways. But the staff at NWMC is looking for grant opportunities and individual municipalities could take up funding for their own communities, Walczak said.

Found Here: http://triblocal.com/arlington-heights/2012/02/21/suburbs-eyeing-northwest-highway-bike-path-new-signage/