Village staff and the Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers team presented the final Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP) at the Board Meeting on February 12, 2024. The plan reviews all of Western Springs’ infrastructure to estimate project costs, prioritize projects through an engineering risk assessment, and give tools for long-term planning.
The CIP covers several types of infrastructure: roadways, water production and distribution, storm and sanitary sewers (including combined systems), sidewalks and pedestrian or bike routes, municipal properties, street lighting, and the fiber optic network.
The full version of the CIP is available online at www.wsprings.com/capitalplan. Residents can also access it by scanning a QR code provided in village materials. The website allows users to zoom in on dynamic maps, search their address, and click on specific projects for more information. It also offers educational videos about the CIP’s background, a timeline of public engagement steps, and other resources. Users are encouraged to use the magnifying glass tool on interactive maps to locate data near their home.
The plan explains how risk assessments were conducted for each type of infrastructure and provides risk scores across all categories. By overlapping this data from different areas—such as roads or water mains—the study aims to identify projects that will make the best use of public funds. Much of Western Springs’ infrastructure has outlasted its intended lifespan; for example, over 40% of local water mains are more than a century old.
A recommendations section outlines projects involving assets rated in the top 15% for risk scores. These recommendations include detailed construction scopes and cost estimates but may change depending on funding availability or impacts during construction.
Western Springs operates under a council-manager government system designed to separate policy-making from administration (official website). The village manager supervises staff who implement policies set by elected officials such as the president and board of trustees (official website). Resident volunteers serve on boards and commissions to review community issues and offer recommendations (official website). Village offices are located at 740 Hillgrove Avenue (official website).
