August 1, 2023

Recently, the Friends of the East Branch DuPage River Trail finalized the wording of a mission/action statement which details the scope of our volunteer work: 

The Friends of the East BranchDuPage River Trail (EBDRT) are volunteers who advocate for completion and maintenance of a greenway trail along the East Branch of the DuPage River. Our mission is to support DuPage County’s comprehensive long-range plan ensuring the enduring health, environmental, economic and social benefits to the residents of DuPageCounty and surrounding communities.

To that effect, DuPage County looks to be undergoing a revision to that plan. Click here to learn more and add your thoughts for the future of DuPage County and to ensure the EBDRT remains part of that plan and indeed becomes a higher priority for DuPage County.

We do have some positive news to share:

The latest news on the development and construction of the EBDRT is that DuDOT (DuPage County Department of Transportation) is funding a study and should be completed by years end (?), hopefully, for how to cross the railroad between the southern edge of Churchill Woods Forest Preserve and connect to the Illinois Prairie Path, just to the south of the railroad. The study involves meetings with railroad, IDOT, Tollway, Glenbard Wastewater, ComEd, NICOR and other governing bodies. Hopefully, they'll figure out something good (We know over the railroad is not an option, but under, around or through might be...who knows? Engineers will figure it out)!

The $1.5 million that was granted by the Federal DOT for the project and matched with 20% local funds (80/20 match federal to local) is going to cover the cost of a Phase I Engineering study from Illinois Prairie Path south to Butterfield Rd. through DuDOT (as the lead agency working with Christopher Burke Engineering). This study will involve community input and public meetings, environmental studies, more meetings with governing bodies (all of the above and more!) and presumably conclusions on final alignment, commencing once the money has been received.

EBDRT has been included in long-range (and short range) budgets and plans for DuDOT and is basically a project that should move forward, with the right public input and continued funding, as well as continued public support.

The best (and only) thing we can really do is mention it to every public official you encounter (local city elected officials and paid staffers), County elected officials (and staff), state reps and senators and even federal reps and senators if you come across them! Every mention is helpful. Click here to learn who and how to contact public officials. And, keep displaying those yard signs. Ask for a car magnet. We are asking for $5 donations to offset the cost of purchasing car magnets. See more progress and where Friends have been active here.