For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
June 17, 2008

BELMONT ROAD GRADE SEPARATION MOVES FORWARD

Project will increase safety and ease congestion, says Schillerstrom

By bringing together local units of government, Metra, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and members of the General Assembly, DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom is pleased to announce that funding has been secured for a grade separation at Belmont Road and the BNSF Railway Company tracks in Downers Grove.

Schillerstrom says the final hurdle was cleared when IDOT agreed to provide up to an additional $8.3 million to the project, on top of the $8.7 million they had originally pledged.  The estimated cost of the project is $52.7 million, with $12 million anticipated from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund administered by the Illinois Commerce Commission, $17 million from IDOT, $16.5 from Metra, $2.37 million from BNSF Railway Company and $5.2 million provided by a CMAQ grant with a Metra local match.

“This project will increase pedestrian and vehicle safety, as well as bring needed traffic relief to the Belmont Road rail crossing,” said Schillerstrom.  “I want to thank everyone involved, especially State Senator Dan Cronin, State Senator Kirk Dillard and State Representative Patti Bellock, for ensuring this project takes place, which will benefit both Downer’s Grove and our entire region.”

Now that funding has been secured, Metra, the lead agency for the project, can complete the contract documents for an anticipated bid opening later this calendar year. 

“This was a real team victory and many good people had a hand in it", stated Downers Grove Mayor Ron Sandack.  “I would also like to thank IDOT for committing the funding for this important public safety project.”