Schakowsky Unveils 15 Community Projects Submitted for Funding Consideration

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member on the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, revealed the 15 community projects she has submitted for funding consideration in appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year:

"One of the most rewarding parts of my job is securing federal funds to address the needs of communities across the 9th Congressional District. I am excited to announce the 15 new projects that I have submitted for funding consideration,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.  “My FY2025 requests will drastically improve water quality in the 9th District and will help make much needed repairs to our infrastructure. From getting rid of harmful led service lines to replacing deteriorating bridges, expanding bike paths, and upgrading public transportation, these projects will improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people in Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties. I will do my best to ensure these projects are fully funded by the Appropriations Committee and signed into law by President Joe Biden, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will bring.”

Additional information on Community Project Funding and the 15 projects selected by Schakowsky, as well as copies of required financial disclosures, are available HERE.

A summary of the 15 projects, in alphabetical order, is provided below:

Algonquin High Hills Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project

• Amount of Request: $3,080,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate Village of Algonquin efforts to relocate two sections of sanitary sewer out of the floodplain, reducing the impact on the village's wastewater treatment facility and addressing infiltration risks in the event of pipe failure. Relocation will make future maintenance easier, while also providing capacity for ongoing development without taxing the treatment facility from excessive infiltration.

Cary PFAS Mitigation & Water Resiliency Project

• Amount of Request: $5,000,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate the construction of a deep well to mitigate the impact on water access from two local wells currently out of operation due to PFAS levels. Additional improvements to the water system would add interconnections between pressure zones, allowing the Village to pump water throughout the entire distribution system, enhancing pressure, quality, and quantity of water available to all residents. At the same time, this interconnectedness will create necessary redundancies that reduce the likelihood of service disruptions.

CPS Mosaic School of the Fine Arts Improvement Project

• Amount of Request: $1,000,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate providing Mosaic students and staff with an upgraded auditorium including upgrades such as lighting, audio, and stage equipment and the addition of lighting for the school’s playground, outdoor turf field, and basketball courts. This project would give the Mosaic students and staff the opportunity to utilize advanced technology which would enhance their educational opportunities. Students would also have the opportunity through expressive arts to increase their social and emotional learning and leadership skills, including self-management, social awareness and relationship skills.

East Lake Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project

• Amount of Request: $2,000,000
• Funding for this project will facilitate replacement of the deck and other improvements to the East Lake Avenue Bridge between the villages of Wilmette and Glenview, Illinois. This bridge has one of the poorest condition ratings in Cook County, Illinois’ system. The project will also address any deficiencies with the existing bridge geometry and hydraulic clearance. Replacement of this structure will also improve safety and accommodate projected 2050 travel demands. The age, condition, and importance of the East Lake Avenue bridge make improving it a top priority.

Evanston Beck Park Expansion Project

• Amount of Request: $3,000,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate a long-sought after expansion of Evanston's Beck Park. Specific improvements include replacement of playgrounds with new STEM/nature based features, an interactive children's water feature, upgraded park lighting to energy efficient LED systems that comply with bird-friendly and dark sky guidelines, a new gazebo/picnic pavilion, habitat restoration and enhancements including naturalized landscapes and pollinator gardens, overlooks and viewing access points to the adjacent North Shore Channel, expansion of the park's bike path system and integration with the City's bike network, a non-motorized connection under Emerson Street to improve bike and pedestrian safety, and widening of McDaniel Avenue south of Lyons street to accommodate on-street parking and a public sidewalk.

Fox Bluff Conservation Area Public Access Improvements Project

• Amount of Request: $3,600,000
• Funding for this project will provide for meaningful improvements to the Fox Bluff Conservation Area, furthering public access to the Fox River and the broader area. Specific planned improvements include a dedicated access road and public parking facilities, public access to the Fox River, development of scenic trails throughout the area, allowing visitors to explore the natural beauty of the Fox Bluff Conservation Area while promoting physical activity and outdoor education, establishment of a communal gathering space, providing a gathering area for events, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives. Additionally, plans include the demolition of one existing structure to make way for improvements and renovation of a historic building once part of Camp Algonquin.

Fremont Township Critical Road Resurfacing Project

• Amount of Request: $1,532,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate the resurfacing and repair of two miles of Owens & Milton Roads, two arterial roads in serious need of repair and reconstruction. Residents of unincorporated Fremont Township and surrounding municipalities will benefit from safe roads in good condition.

Lake County Public Works Water System Improvements Project (Hawthorn Woods/Glennshire & Forest Lake)

• Amount of Request: $5,000,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate establishing a water storage solution, connecting local communities to an adjacent water system, and helping provide a long-term and more resilient water source solution – in this case, Lake Michigan water. Safe and reliable drinking water is essential to any community and these specific communities currently struggle with water access issues that are unreliable and increasingly expensive.

McHenry County Police Officer Social Worker Program Headquarters Renovation Project

• Amount of Request: $3,000,000
• Funding for this project will assist with the rehabilitation of a dilapidated historic building for the purpose of establishing a Police Social Work Headquarters. Specific improvements include restoration and improvements to the historic building envelope, a new HVAC system, needed equipment, and installation of secure door access systems. Funding will also be used to create private office spaces for the social workers and a soft room where families can gather with social workers to discuss mental health and other sensitive matters in a safe space. There will also be a variety of Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to ensure accessibility.

Mill Creek Subdivision Utility Resiliency Project

• Amount of Request: $8,700,000
• Funding for this project would help the Village of Buffalo Grove install needed storm water upgrades and water main replacement, in addition to properly addressing wastewater inflow and infiltration issues, and other related improvements. These improvements will allow the Village to better manage adverse weather events that put enormous strain on surrounding storm water infrastructure.

Morton Grove Lead Service Replacement Project

• Amount of Request: $5,000,000
• Funding for this project will facilitate the replacement of significant numbers of lead service lines throughout the Village of Morton Grove. Lead service lines pose a serious threat to public health and municipalities face federal mandates to replace these services lines over the next several years.

Niles Howard Street Bridge Replacement Project

• Amount of Request: $2,500,000
• Funding for this project would facilitate the complete replacement of the Howard Street bridge in Niles, Illinois. This bridge has a rating of Poor Condition – Advanced Deterioration, and is critically in need of replacement. Reconstruction of the bridge can provide a structure that can return Howard Street to its intended use, spur economic business, incorporate pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and make hydraulic and environmental improvements that can reduce flooding impacts.

Niles Township Respite Center Renovation Project

• Amount of Request: $1,250,000
• Funding for this project will facilitate capital improvements to restore the physical space and ensure the accessibility of the Township's Respite Center. Specific improvements include updating the bathrooms, improving accessibility to the building (including installation of a chair lift or other means of allowing wheelchair access to the basement), asbestos abatement, and improving common use spaces, including the kitchen and resting spaces.

Pace Bus Touhy Avenue Transit Signal Priority Project

• Amount of Request: $1,680,000
• Funding for this project would allow for implementation of transit signal priority on Pace Bus's Touhy Avenue line running through Rogers Park, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles and Park Ridge, IL. Touhy Avenue is one of the corridors with the heaviest bus ridership in Cook County, Illinois. The requested funding would pay for implementation of transit signal priority (TSP) equipment at 60 traffic signals along the route.

Skokie Storm Water Infrastructure Enhancement Project

• Amount of Request: $3,625,000
• Funding for this project will facilitate the implementation of significant storm water improvements. These include the installation of underground water storage capacity and new sewer pipe that would serve as a relief when the combined sewers are experiencing high flows during adverse events. The project would help the existing sewer system deal with the increased rainfall our region is experiencing. By lowering the hydraulic grade line in the sewer the Village aims to reduce the chance of basement backups during adverse events. These improvements would directly benefit a densely populated residential area with a high number of multi-unit buildings.

###