Politics & Government
LG Park Residents Knock Possible Parking Ban on Brainard
La Grange Park residents criticize village plan to seek federal funding for roadway improvements, the Doings reports.
The La Grange Park Village Board nixed its plan to form a citizen advisory group at its Tuesday meeting after residents criticized a parking ban that would result from a federally-funded road project to repair Brainard Avenue, the Doings La Grange reports.
With nearly five miles of roadways in need of repairs, the village is considering applying for an IDOT grant that would pay for 75 percent of the project, as well as sewer and driveway improvements.
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The roadwork would include improvements on Harding, Maple, Kemman and, most importantly, Brainard, which is in need of immediate repair, according to the village.
But before pursuing the grant, the village asked for feedback from the public because of its disapproval of the same project proposed in 2004.
Residents opposed the project because, in exchange for federal funding, the village would either be required to widen Brainard Avenue by four feet on each side to maintain parking or eliminate parking on one side, according to the village.
A dozen residents said the parking ban would increase the speed and traffic on Brainard and be a danger to children in the quiet neighborhood, according to the Doings.
If the village paid for the $650,000 project on its own, it would need to increase next year's paving budget.
With federal funding, the village would also be able to complete road improvements in other areas of town, substantial sewer work and driveway apron replacements for homeowners.
With the grant, the project would cost about $1.075 million, according to the village.
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Read the La Grange Doings story here.
Read the FAQ section related to the project on the Village of La Grange Park website here.
Find out what's happening in La Grangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What do you think of this project? Can you deal with a reduction in parking on Brainard, or should the village forgo the grant? Let us know in the comments below.
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