The headline seeming repetitive? We’re not complaining.

Part 4: In early November, Blue Island was notified that it’s receiving its CMAQ request to the federal government for $1.2 million in two parts: approximately $650,000 in 2008, and a following $450,000 in 2009. That money will be spent doing preliminary engineering, surveys and environmental studies from the boat launch in Alsip to the Village of Burnham. With Palos Heights’ award from the previous year for the same work from Alsip to near Lemont, the full length of the trail now has the funding for work to begin.

Part 5: And then it was Christmas! In the last days of December, Senator Richard Durbin, that champion of Illinois trails, delivered what could be another quarter million dollars to the Calumet-Sag Trail through the federal Transportation System and Community Preservation program which passed into law just before the new year. The Senator’s office had contacted League of Illinois Bicyclists and Chicagoland Bicycle Federation regarding trail projects that could use less than $300,000. Our ask was for $250,000, but although all of Durbin’s $3 million request for Illinois trails was approved, the final appropriation could change amounts some. We don’t have to wait for final numbers though to say a big happy THANK YOU to the Senator and his staff. And you should too!

Both programs fund work at 80% of the total cost, requiring participating towns and agencies to fund 20% of the project with money that doesn’t come from the federal government. A goal of the Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail is to raise money and find trail sponsors to help towns and agencies meet that obligation. We’re a 501c3, thanks to the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation serving as our fiscal agent, so all your support for the Friends is tax deductible. Click here to join the Friends!

— Steve Buchtel, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation