Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee met on September 2, 2026, at 8:30 AM. The meeting was held in person with remote attendance via Zoom. Members present: Chair (unidentified), Hewitt, Hunter, Jermaine, Roberts, Wasek. Member Maine participated electronically. The agenda included the consent calendar, updates from the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), a change order for the Rollins Road Force Main Replacement, a presentation on the five-year capital improvement program (CIP), several resolutions for transportation and transit funding, a status update on the long-range transportation plan (Vision 2050), and a discussion on quick take authority for the Cedar Lake Road realignment project.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8.1: Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously. (Motion by Roberts, second by Hewitt.)

Discussion Items

• Item 8.2: NITA Quarterly Update – Kate Peterson, Mobility Outreach Coordinator, reported that the Northern Illinois Transit Authority officially launched on September 1, 2026. Key points: no transit service cuts; fare programs (reduced fare, free ADA paratransit, Access pilot) remain unchanged; $132 million allocated for immediate safety needs including rail slow zones and bus connections. A regional transit coordination study is underway to improve transfer times to 3–15 minutes. In Lake County, a Fox Lake project was selected under the development dialogue category for two parcels near the Metra station. Member Wasick asked about a timeline for studying expanded Metra service on the North Central line; Peterson agreed to follow up. Chair noted that Gary Gordon is Lake County's representative on the NITA board.
• Item 8.3: Change Order No. 1 – Rollins Road Force Main Replacement – Director Austin McFarland explained that additional internal piping damage was discovered, requiring a change order with Burger Contractors Inc. The net cost increased from $2,278,831.30 to $2,333,426.30, covered by contingency funds. (Motion by Hunter, second by Kasbin; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.4: Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (FY27–FY31) Presentation – Assistant Public Works Director Mark Bourgot and Engineering Supervisor Brittany Sloan presented the department's CIP. Highlights include: enterprise budget of $83.3 million for FY26, with $22.2 million for capital; ARPA funding of $21.4 million nearly fully expended; new UV disinfection at the Des Plaines water treatment facility (100% effective against E. coli); completed water towers (Gages Lake, White Deer Run) adding over 3 million gallons of storage; ongoing projects (Manitou Creek shoreline stabilization, SCADA modernization, Oak Terrace water system improvements). The proposed five-year CIP totals $110 million, with FY27 funding of $25.9 million. Committee members praised the work and asked about coordination with IDOT, the John Mogg water tower retention, and the Highland Lakes project timeline. Member Hunter noted coordination with Lake County DOT on Fairfield Road and Route 59 water main projects.
• Item 8.5: Traffic Signal and Street Light Maintenance Resolution – Authorized a one-year renewal with Mead Inc. for $1,487,143.71, covering about 200 traffic signals and 700 street lights. All county-owned signals are now LED. (Motion by Kasmin, second by Hewitt; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.6: Roundabout Safety Improvements – River Road and Roberts Road – Authorized Phase II engineering services with GFT Infrastructure Inc. at a maximum cost of $286,478, appropriating $345,000 in motor fuel tax funds. The existing hybrid roundabout will be modified to a single-lane roundabout to improve safety and reduce speeds. (Motion by Hunter, second by Roberts; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.7: Border Bridge MOU – State Line Road – Authorized a four-way agreement among Kenosha County, Wisconsin DOT, IDOT, and Lake County regarding maintenance responsibilities for the bridge over the Dutch Gap Canal. Kenosha County retains jurisdiction. (Motion by Hunter, second by Hewitt; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.8: CMAP Transportation Planning Staff Assistance – Authorized an annual agreement with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) for staff support to the Lake County Council of Mayors, with reimbursement of about $200,000. (Motion by Kasmin, second by Roberts; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.9: Federal 5310 Grant Agreement with NITA – Authorized a technical services agreement for federal Section 5310 funds supporting Ride Lake County paratransit. The grant covers 25% of annual operating costs (approximately $500,000 per year) and is retroactive to January 1, 2025. (Motion by Hunter, second by Kasbin; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.10: Cedar Lake Road Realignment – Right-of-Way Acquisition Funding – Authorized an agreement with IDOT to use $4 million in federal community project funding for right-of-way acquisition. The project also includes a $19 million RAISE grant, $7.5 million from the Council of Mayors, and $2 million from Metra. (Motion by Hunter, second by Wasick; approved unanimously.)
• Item 8.11: Vision 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan Update – Mike Clemens, Manager of Transportation Planning, reported the plan is in Phase 3 (Decide). A travel demand model is being finalized using updated CMAP data. Up to 75 future projects will be simulated. Public engagement includes middle school sign contests, a high school student advisory council, and four in-person public meetings (November–December 2026). The plan is expected to be adopted by summer 2027.
• Item 8.12: Director's Report – Quick Take Authority for Cedar Lake Road – Director Shane Schneider requested committee concurrence to pursue quick take authority from the Illinois General Assembly for land acquisition on the Cedar Lake Road realignment. The RAISE grant requires all land cleared by September 2028. A public hearing is scheduled for September 9, 2026. Quick take would allow the county to take possession after offering appraised value while continuing negotiations. Committee members expressed support; consensus was given to proceed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved.
• Change Order No. 1 for Rollins Road Force Main Replacement approved (cost increasing to $2,333,426.30).
• Resolution for traffic signal and street light maintenance renewal with Mead Inc. approved ($1,487,143.71).
• Resolution for roundabout safety improvements engineering services approved (max $286,478, appropriating $345,000).
• Resolution for border bridge MOU approved.
• Resolution for CMAP planning staff assistance approved ($200,000 reimbursement).
• Resolution for federal 5310 grant agreement with NITA approved.
• Resolution for Cedar Lake Road right-of-way acquisition funding approved ($4 million).
• Committee gave consensus to proceed with quick take authority for Cedar Lake Road realignment.
• Gabby Ocampo introduced as new executive assistant in the County Administrator's Office.
• Next meeting scheduled for September 30, 2026.