Berwyn moves forward with Depot District Streetscape plan

BERWYN – The Berwyn Depot District Streetscape plan is designed to further enhance the look of the city’s main business district, located along Windsor and Stanley avenues along the BNSF rail line.

Officials with the city of Berwyn said residents can look for work to begin this fall, with construction completed by the fall of 2016.

The Berwyn City Council passed a resolution when it met June 23 that approved state participation for engineering funds in the amount of $355,255.

State funding is drawn from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Highway Improvement Program. The city of Berwyn’s share of the engineering costs is budgeted at $46,848.

Construction will take place in two phases, Assistant City Administrator Evan Summers said.

First, work will begin underground, and will include the replacement of aging water mains. The second stage will focus on aesthetic features for the Depot District.

“One hundred years ago, the infrastructure was not built for a city as large as ours,” Summers said. “It would be silly to invest money on the aesthetically pleasing aspects if the infrastructure is failing.”

Above ground improvements include new sidewalks and curbs, planters, bike racks and newly-planted trees. Summers said the project is in many ways similar to the streetscape project that was completed for the Roosevelt Road business corridor last year.

“That worked out really well and we’re trying to replicate that project in the Depot District,” Summers said.

However, a big difference between the two projects is the Depot District is bisected by the BNSF railroad and working around a railroad, Summers said, is always difficult.

Public Works Director Bob Schiller said there still is much planning to take place before construction starts on the estimated $15 million project.

Schiller said more grants were being sought for the city to cover costs.