Aurora considering bike plan that recommends miles of new paths
Aurora is considering adopting a new biking plan that would look to dramatically increase the number of bike lanes, paths and sidewalks in the city.
The city currently has 'pretty decent biking infrastructure,' but the 2025 City of Aurora's Bicycle Pedestrian Plan proposes expanding that infrastructure to link existing routes and adding sidewalks to every feasible location within the city.
That's according to Eric Mueller, a planner at Epstein Global, who presented the Aurora City Council's Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee a brief overview of the plan on April 23.
His presentation showed that the plan would recommend nearly 135 miles of new bike infrastructure along with 279 miles of new sidewalks.
The plan doesn't propose just a single type of bike path – instead, it specifies eight different types. Some are connected to roads, such as marked bike routes, bike lanes and paved shoulders, while others are not, such as trails.
Proposals for bike-friendly policies, programs and procedures, along with pedestrian safety measures especially around intersections, are also included in the proposed plan.
Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward, said she was 'in awe' of the plan but felt like there was no ceiling, it was just 'everything you could ever want in the biking world.'
'It's a lot of miles. It's a lot of money. It's a lot of great stuff,' Smith said. 'I wish we could call Santa Claus and ask him to show up tomorrow and fix this for us.'
According to Mueller, the plan also includes ways to fund the various projects, such as through grants. He said the plan is good for about 10 to 15 years, but 'we'd be kidding ourselves if we expected everything we suggested to get implemented.'
Ald. Mike Saville, 6th Ward, said the report was great but the city needs to make sure the plan actually gets implemented. Often, the city pays for plans but then something happens and the city's focus changes, so the plan ends up 'collecting dust on the shelf,' he said.
Mueller's presentation at that meeting was a brief overview of the plan, with a more in-depth presentation and discussion expected at the upcoming City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday.
But he did show off what he called a feature project of the plan: a proposed connection between the Virgil Gilman Trail and the Waubonsee Creek Trail.
While Mueller said the paths would ideally connect along the nearby creek, the city has been unable to speak to the landowner about an easement, so the plan proposes a slightly 'roundabout' path that he said is the second-best option.
This connection was the thing Epstein Global heard most from residents, according to Mueller.
Public engagement began in 2023, and residents strongly supported improving biking and walking infrastructure throughout Aurora, he said.
Aurora's current Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was adopted in 2009. In 2023, the city selected Epstein to update the plan at a cost of around $50,000, according to past reporting.
The 2025 City of Aurora's Bicycle Pedestrian Plan was unanimously approved by the Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee, but it must still go before the Committee of the Whole before going to the Aurora City Council for final approval.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
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