CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the 2026 and 2027 Annual New Sidewalk Program
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Christine Rhoades, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
On September 4, 2025, the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) recommended approval of the 2026 and 2027 Annual New Sidewalk Program. (Approved 7-0)
BACKGROUND:
The New Sidewalk Program was established in 2004 following the adoption of the Comprehensive Sidewalk Policy, a guiding document that defines the policies and programs for implementation of the pedestrian component of Naperville’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The New Sidewalk Program annually installs new public sidewalk in locations that are lacking sidewalk along the roadway (sidewalk gaps). Every few years, locations for a multi-year program are reviewed by TAB and City Council for approval. The program has installed almost 15 miles of sidewalk in over 120 gap locations.
Gap locations are prioritized using a scoring system that takes into account numerous factors such as roadway classification, proximity to schools, connectivity to the existing sidewalk network, presence of sidewalk on the opposite side of the roadway, and constructability. During consideration of previous programs, City Council expressed support for locations that are beneficial to students, are located within the City’s corporate boundaries, do not pose considerable constructability challenges, and are located in front of incorporated properties. Therefore, locations that do not meet these criteria are filtered out.
To provide greater opportunity for resident input, property owners who live along high-scoring neighborhood gap locations are then surveyed before those locations are proposed to TAB. Locations with a high level of opposition are removed from near-term consideration. Gaps along arterial roadways are prioritized based on vehicular speeds and volumes.
DISCUSSION:
In preparation for the upcoming Annual New Sidewalk Program, City staff identified the 57 highest-scoring neighborhood gaps and sent surveys to all 316 adjacent properties. The surveys requested property owners provide a response expressing either their support for or opposition to sidewalk being constructed in the proposed locations. After removing locations that were opposed by two-thirds of respondents, notification letters were then sent to the properties located along the 25 remaining locations. These letters informed residents that their block is under consideration for near-term sidewalk installation and invited them to attend the upcoming TAB meeting to provide additional feedback. There is one location adjacent to an unincorporated property that staff included in the process, because the incorporated neighborhood to the north had expressed a need for this sidewalk gap to be filled during a previous TAB meeting.
There is one petition location that received 100% support from the adjacent property owners. Notification letters were also sent to these property owners, inviting them to attend the TAB meeting to provide feedback.
All identified high-priority and medium-priority arterial gap locations have been constructed. Due to the impact of arterial gaps and the characteristics of the remaining gaps, staff recommends delaying inclusion of the remaining gaps in the program until after approval of the bicycle and pedestrian plan.
Transportation Advisory Board
At the September 4, 2025 TAB meeting, staff presented the gap locations. Based on annual funding, property owner support, and segment proximities, staff proposed locations for a 2026 and 2027 program, as well as contingency locations.
At the meeting, staff proposed removing three locations from the original program, because late responses or corrected response entry resulted in a supermajority of those blocks being opposed to sidewalk installation. TAB agreed with the proposed removal.
Eleven written comments and five position statements were submitted, and seven residents spoke at the meeting. The meeting minutes and public comments are attached. Based on the selection process and public input received, TAB approved the 2026 and 2027 Annual New Sidewalk Program recommendation. The attached map depicts which construction year each location is planned for.
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2026 Program |
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6th St from Center St to Ellsworth St - North |
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Douglas Ave from Webster St to Washington St - South |
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Franklin Ave from Julian St to Huffman Ave - South |
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Killdeer Dr from Foxcroft Rd to Starling Ln - East |
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Laird St from Wilson Ave to Douglas Ave - West |
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*Vest Ave from Lockwood Cr to Bauer Rd - West |
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Wright St from Villa Ave to Wehrli Dr - West |
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Wright St from Wehrli Dr to Hillside Rd - West |
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Wright St from Hillside Rd to Prairie Ave - West |
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Highland Ave from Wright St to Columbia St - South |
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2027 Program |
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Parkway Dr from Jefferson Ave to Benton Ave - East |
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Sleight St from 8th Ave to Cul-de-Sac - East |
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10th Ave from Main St to Washington St - North |
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Main St from 12th Ave to 13th Ave - West |
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Main St from 13th Ave to 14th Ave - West |
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Webster St from 13th Ave to 14th Ave - East |
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Wright St from 8th Ave to 5th Ave - East |
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Willow Rd from Maple Ln to Golden Larch Ct - West |
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Contingency |
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Franklin Ave from Columbia St to Julian St - South |
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Porter Ave from Loomis St to Sleight St - North |
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Webster St from 14th Ave to Bauer Rd - East |
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Maple Ln from Melody Ln to Willow Rd - North |
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Sleight St from Chicago Ave to Highland Ave - West |
*Location adjacent to unincorporated property
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Annual Sidewalk Program has traditionally been programmed at $300,000 per year. Consistent with past funding levels, the proposed Calendar Year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program includes $300,000 for the Annual New Sidewalk Program in CY26 and CY27.