GODFREY – A new shared-use path in Godfrey may soon be in the early planning stages.
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Village trustees are set to consider a proposal from Oates Associates to perform a concept plan study for a new shared-use path at a not-to-exceed cost of $9,900 at their May 19, 2026 meeting.
The proposed path would branch off from the F.E. Widman Trail at Rocky Fork Road, then run south along Boy Scout Lane before turning west along West Delmar Avenue and routing back to the F.E. Widman Trail at LaVista Park, according to a staff memo from Village Engineer Rich Beran.
“Staff and park board members believe the next step is to expand the trail system eastward to provide access to the most densely populated areas of the Village such as the subdivisions of River Aire, Arrow Wood, and D’Adrian Gardens,” Beran stated in the memo.
This project would mark the latest continuation of Godfrey’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan from 2017, which identified several potential projects to boost pedestrian and bicycle connectivity around the village. Juneau Associates is currently developing construction plans for Phase 3 of the F.E. Widman Trail project, which will span Boy Scout Lane to Pierce Lane, and Beran said construction could start as soon as this fall.
While Juneau continues its construction planning work, Beran suggested having Oates Associates handle the concept planning for this specific shared-use path project to supplement the village’s pending application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant funds.
Beran explained in his memo that applications for the next round of ITEP grants are due in October of 2026 and will be awarded in 2027. The award ceiling for 2026 has been raised to $5 million after the state offered up to $3 million to applicants in 2025.
The village secured $1 million in ITEP funding in 2025 to complete the F.E. Widman Trail project, which must be allocated by May of 2029. Beran said having concept plans in hand helps prove to the state that the village intends to follow through with using any grant funds received to make the project a reality, underscoring the need for the concept plans for Oates Associates.
“A major reason for the success of the 2025 award was that the Village’s application was able to demonstrate that extensive planning work had already been completed,” Beran stated in the memo. “Essentially, the ITEP program wants to see evidence that projects will actually happen instead of just ideas.”
Under the agreement with Oates Associates, concept planning work for the new shared use path would begin immediately upon the agreement’s approval. Visit Riverbender.com/video/live to follow the discussion and vote live on May 19, 2026 at 6 p.m. and stay tuned to Riverbender.com for the latest coverage.
