E-Newsletter: August 7, 2020

The DuPage County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard, shows the number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in each municipality. There have been a total of 549 lab recorded cases of COVID-19 in Elmhurst as of 8/6/20.

Please continue to follow healthcare professional advice to protect yourselves. Practice social distance and wear a mask in public places. Wash your hands frequently and do not touch your face with unwashed hands.

In order to maintain progress made regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are urged to follow safety guidelines and protocols in place, to help minimize the spread of illness. Failure to do so may result in increased cases of COVID-19 and the implementation of State restrictions.
HELP KEEP ELMHURST OPEN BY SLOWING THE SPEAD OF COVID-19:
Wear a mask, Watch your distance, and Wash your hands

  • Wear a face mask when social distancing cannot be maintained and where required, specifically in public places. 
  • A minimum of 6-ft of social distancing is required from any individual who does not reside in your home.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Clean and sanitize commonly used surfaces.
  • If you have traveled to a COVID-19 hotspot, the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends a stay home period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
  • Group gatherings of more than 50 persons are to be strictly avoided.
  • Stay home when you are sick or experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
  • Avoid contact with others that are sick or experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

You can check on Elmhurst’s (region 8) current status. The map includes information regarding ICU bed availability, illness admissions, and daily increases. View the map at www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics.

Phase 2 of Elmhurst Metra Station Improvement Project
to begin in August
The City of Elmhurst is excited to announce the beginning of Phase 2 of the Elmhurst Metra Station Improvement Project. At the Elmhurst City Council meeting held on August 3rd, CDM Smith presented details on the next steps of the process, which include various ways of gathering public input on site plans and final design concepts. 

The Elmhurst Metra Station was last updated in the 1980’s. The facility currently consists of a depot building with a ticket agent office, waiting room, coffee shop and public restrooms located on the inbound side of the tracks. An open sided shelter is located along the inbound platform east of the existing station and a shelter/pedestrian underpass access area is located on the outbound side of the tracks. 

The Elmhurst Metra Station Improvement Project will include the construction of new inbound and outbound stations and warming shelters to expand commuter-waiting areas.  A new pedestrian tunnel is proposed at York Street to provide a mid-platform crossing for commuters and a pedestrian by-pass at a busy crossing in downtown Elmhurst.  ADA access improvements will be added to all areas of the station.  Dedicated bus and vehicular drop off zones are proposed to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours.  Increased bike parking and improved pedestrian crossings and sidewalks are also proposed to provide safer routes to the new station(s) and warming shelters.  The improvements will create more green space, reducing storm water runoff. 

In Phase 1, the project was studied, multiple alternatives were developed, and a preferred alternative was developed with input from the City and residents through public meetings and workshops. In Phase 2, the project will begin final engineering design after City and public involvement to influence the architectural character of the new station.  This will begin in late August 2020 and continue through the fall and into winter. 

The City received multiple federal, state, and agency grants totaling over $20M to help fund the project.   These grants were through competitive selection and currently are programmed to be spent starting in fiscal year 2022.   This includes support from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program allocated by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Surface Transportation Program, the Illinois Commerce Commission, and Metra. The grants received will provide the majority of funds needed to complete this project. 

To help ensure Elmhurst continues to have a vibrant competitive downtown and multi-model transit system, the City is requesting input from residents, the business community, Metra commuters, and others who have a vested interest in the City’s future.  Stay connected to City news releases and calendar events for upcoming ways to provide input to this important Metra Station improvement project. 
Impact Your Community: Complete Your 2020 Census

It’s not too late to complete your 2020 Census. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. School lunches, housing assistance for older adults, transportation planning, support for first responders and families in need; these are only a few examples of how Census funding shapes different aspects of the Elmhurst community every day. The 2020 Census is happening now. You can self-respond to the Census online, by phone, or by mail through September 30, 2020. 

The 2020 Census asks a few simple questions about you and everyone who was living with you on April 1, 2020. If you are responding for your home, count everyone who was living and sleeping there most of the time as of April 1, 2020. This includes young children, foster children, roommates, and any family members or friends who are living with you, even temporarily. 

Right now, Census takers are actively visiting households (single family, apartments, condos, townhomes) that have not yet self-responded to the 2020 Census. Census takers will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home. All census takers complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in communities. If someone visits your home this year to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure they have a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. If you still have questions about their identity, you can contact the regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative at (312)579-1500. 

The 2020 Census belongs to us all. If you know someone who has not yet responded, please encourage them to do so today online at my2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail. Everyone Counts Elmhurst.

Upcoming Public Meetings:
Public comment options for public meetings City Hall continues to be open during public meetings and for public comment opportunities. There are several ways to provide public comment during these meetings including online and in person. The City recently added a call-in option for public comment. A list of public commenting options can be found on the City's Agenda Center/Boardocs. If you any questions or require assistance, please contact the City's Deputy Clerk at 630-530-3010.

City of Elmhurst
630-530-3000 
Weekdays: 8:30am - 5pm