TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve a recommendation to adopt the update to the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Sydney Smith, Project Manager
BACKGROUND:
The City of Naperville adopted the previous Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 1997 and completed an interim update in 2006 to prioritize bicycle route implementation. These plans guided the development of Naperville’s sidewalk infill program and the construction of the existing bicycle network. To ensure the City continues to meet the needs of the community, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has been updated and provides recommended infrastructure and policy improvements that Naperville can implement over the next 20-years to expand active transportation opportunities and enhance user comfort.
In August 2025, the City hired A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. (Epstein) to develop an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Over the past year, Epstein worked with staff to evaluate the existing conditions of Naperville’s active transportation network, perform a level of stress analysis, and gather public input. The results of this analysis and public comments were utilized to develop project recommendations.
A preliminary draft of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan document was made available to the public in August 2026 and an overview of the plan was presented for public comment at the September 3, 2026 TAB meeting. The project team reviewed all public comments and revised the document to produce a final draft of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
DISCUSSION:
Public comments for the September 2026 TAB meeting showed broad support for updating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure citywide. The main concerns expressed by the speakers and written comments were whether the proposed recommendations would provide sufficient safety and connectivity, whether specific omissions and neighborhood impacts would be addressed, and whether the City would provide the funding and implementation commitment to turn recommendations into projects.
Following the September TAB, minor revisions were made to address public comments and correct omissions. Attachment 1 provides a summary of speaker concerns, highlights where in the document specific concerns are addressed, and reviews all revisions made to the document.
Key revisions to the document include:
• Addition of a recommendation for a feasibility study for an off-street bicycle connection through the Downtown
• An overview of project implementation that identifies facility design, crossing improvements, and public engagement as future steps
• Clarifying language added to the application of protected bicycle lanes, No Build designation policy, and estimated cost summary
Most safety and connectivity concerns are addressed in the document by the Design Guidelines included in Chapter 5 and the project and policy recommendations included in Chapter 6 and required no revisions. Most funding and implementation concerns were addressed in the document in Chapters 6 and 7 and required no revisions.
The final drafts of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and appendix are attached.