Several south and southwest suburbs are getting Cook County grant money for transportation projects such as repaving streets and building bike paths.
Nearly $8.3 million in grants for 32 projects were announced last week by Cook County.
The county awarded $300,000 to Calumet City to install stormwater bumpouts on Wentworth Avenue at 156th Street and 156th Place.
Calumet Park will get $350,000 for design and construction of alley improvements in the village.
The county awarded $300,000 to Harvey for engineering work on a project to make improvements along 157th Street between West Avenue and Dixie Highway in an industrial area of the city.
Oak Forest will get $416,000 to build a bike and walking trail along Central Avenue north of 159th Street. The trail will connect with the existing Tinley Creek trail and also make sections of Oak Forest more accessible by foot or bike, including City Hall, Central Park, the library and Oak Forest High School, according to the county.
The county awarded $306,000 to the Oak Lawn Park District for a bike and walking path at the Wolfe Wildlife Park, 109th Street and Laramie Avenue.
The work will involve replacing and widening an existing asphalt path, installing lighting and building a new path along the east side of Richards High School, according to the county.
Orland Park plans to make safety improvements at 159th Street and 94th Avenue, bordering Orland Hills, and will get $150,000 toward design of the work.
Palos Hills will get $270,000 to make pedestrian safety improvements along 111th Street.
Phoenix will get $430,000 toward design and construction of road improvements along 7th Avenue from 153rd Street to 155th Street. Resurfacing of the street comes after installation of a new water main on 7th Avenue.
The county awarded $240,000 to Richton Park to design a rebuild of Richton Road, including making it a two-way street with a center turn lane.
Tinley Park will receive $250,000 to make road improvements along 179th Street between 80th Avenue and 94th Avenue. Resurfacing the road is planned along with new sidewalks, according to the county.
The funds come from the Invest in Cook program, which earmarks grants for transit projects.
County officials said 63% of funds this year will go to projects in low- and moderate-income areas.
They said in some projects funded, county money is leveraged with local, state or federal money to widen the scope of work.
This the ninth year Invest in Cook money has been distributed, with a total over that time of more than $72 million.
