The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public that just a few weeks remain to vote for Chicago's Forest Hill Flyover as the top transportation project in the nation.
IDOT says a win would bring Illinois national recognition and $10,000 in prize money, which the agency will award to the Golden Hope Foundation, a Chicago organization that helps local children through scholarship assistance, back-to-school backpack drives and science, technology, engineering and mathematics summer camps.
About the contest
According to IDOT, the Forest Hill Flyover is a Top 12 finalist in the America's Transportation Awards, a competition hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The project is competing for both the national Grand Prize, chosen by an independent panel of transportation industry judges, and the People's Choice Award, decided by online public vote.
IDOT says the public can cast one vote a day for the People's Choice Award through Nov. 15 online at www.americastransportationawards.org. The winning projects are scheduled to be announced Nov. 17 in Louisville, Kentucky.
About the project
According to IDOT, the Forest Hill Flyover added an elevated rail corridor and additional tracks on Chicago's South Side at what was one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the country, separating trains from vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The agency says the improvement has decreased noise, reduced emissions and improved reliability for first responders.
The project is part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program, known as CREATE, a public-private partnership between railroads and state and local governments. According to the America's Transportation Awards website, the roughly $380 million project also included nearby sidewalk and curb repairs, resurfacing, tree planting, bus stop improvements and safety upgrades on local roads.
About Golden Hope Foundation
According to the Golden Hope Foundation's website, the Chicago nonprofit was founded in 2008 and focuses on improving access to education and health care for children in underserved communities through programs such as scholarship assistance, tutoring and early childhood education.
Source: the original release