2024 Powering Safe Communities Program Awards Over $185,000 to Local Communities

ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Powering Safe Communities grant program. This year, the program awarded over $185,000 in grants across ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory. The grants, worth up to $10,000 each, are awarded to projects that support municipal public safety and clean energy initiatives, with a focus on electrification projects that can reduce carbon emissions, improve public health outcomes and advance community resiliency.

"ComEd is proud to partner with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to support community-driven safety and clean energy initiatives," said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “"By investing in these critical projects, we're enhancing public safety and building more resilient communities. Our efforts in clean energy, transportation, and electrification demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable, secure future. Together, we're making Northern Illinois safer and more environmentally friendly for everyone."

This is the tenth year of the Powering Safe Communities program, which has awarded over 200 grants totaling nearly $2 million to northern Illinois communities since its launch in 2015. Common among this year’s recipients are plans to purchase radar speed signs, many of which are solar powered, electric vehicles (EVs) and bicycles for public safety use and electric vehicle charging stations for municipal and public use.

“The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is thrilled to continue our partnership with ComEd to provide funding that enhances public safety and clean energy projects that prepare our region for future challenges,” said Neil James, Executive Director at Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “We are proud to help our local governments achieve their safety, sustainability, and infrastructure goals.”

Below is a summary of the 25 ComEd Powering Safe Communities grant recipients for 2024:

The Bensenville Police Department will use its grant to acquire two radar units for its patrol cars, which will enable accurate measurement of traffic speeds to improve road safety and enforce traffic laws.

The Berwyn Police Department will use its grant for the purchase of two solar-powered speed trailers to enhance safety measures in school zones and high-traffic areas. These trailers will monitor and control traffic speeds effectively, ensuring safer streets for residents and students.

The Chicago Heights Police Department will use its grant to acquire four solar-powered speed radar signs and one solar-powered flashing stop sign. These installations will be strategically placed near busy intersections and schools to enhance pedestrian and traffic safety.

The Chicago Ridge Police Department will purchase and deploy one solar powered programmable speed violator strobe light and speed display with its grant. The speed radar signs would be secured on Ridgeland Avenue where there is a growing concern for speeding vehicles by both our residents and elected officials.

The City of Oakbrook Terrace will use its grant to obtain solar-powered street crossing signage ensuring sustainable operation while effectively alerting drivers and pedestrians to crosswalks aimed at enhancing safety for school routes in areas currently lacking such infrastructure. This initiative is crucial for ensuring safe passage for students and pedestrians, particularly in high-traffic zones around schools.

The Frankfort Police Department will purchase one electric bike and one speed radar sign with its grant. This equipment allows the department to continue providing a high level of service to the community with less environmental impact. The Shield Radar Speed Sign will also allow for data collection to properly deploy other assets and resources to combat and deter vehicular safety concerns in critical areas.

The Hickory Hills Police Department will implement three new solar-powered speed radar signs and added solar enhancements to existing units with its grant. These installations are focused on areas with high pedestrian traffic near dense housing and recreational facilities, promoting safer community environments.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department will purchase two speed radar signs equipped to collect vehicle size data with its grant, facilitating better management of trucking weight issues on a low-capacity bridge. These measures contribute to improved traffic safety and infrastructure management.

The Midlothian Fire Department will use its grant to attain a battery-powered chair for lifting and moving patients safely through its stairs. This new chair replaces their outdated manual chair, improving safety for both patients and fire department personnel.

The Palos Hills Police Department will use its grant to obtain one speed radar sign, a messaging board, and a trailer, enhancing their ability to collect data for optimal police resource deployment and traffic management.

The Richton Park Fire Department will use its grant to replace five AEDs. With over 12,000 residents and thousands of visitors annually, updated AEDs can potentially save lives during cardiac emergencies.

The River Grove Police Department will install six solar-powered speed radar signs in high-traffic crash areas near schools with its grant, aiming to significantly reduce accidents and ensure safer school zones for students and pedestrians.

The Riverwoods Police Department will purchase a solar-powered radar sign on Deerfield Road with its grant, where the highest percentage of vehicle accidents occur. This will improve road safety and prevent collisions effectively.

The Rolling Meadows Police Department: will use its grant to implement battery powered police bikes to its current bicycle patrol program. The battery powered bicycles would enable officers to patrol a larger geographic area and allow them to respond to in progress calls for assistance sooner, thus reducing response times. The battery powered bicycles would overall enhance public safety.

The Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District will use its grant for a battery-powered ventilation equipment, which will replace gas-powered equipment to improve air quality.

The Village of Bolingbrook will use its grant for an electric mini ambulance for efficient emergency response at public events and parks. The mini ambulance will include a built-in cot, compartment for an automatic defibrillator, and essential medical supplies, promoting environmental sustainability through electric power use and emission reduction.

The Village of Homewood Police Department will purchase four solar-powered speed radar signs along with equipment for safety personnel with its grant. This includes 15 LED stop handheld signs, 13 LED flares, and 41 LED personal safety devices, such as LED personal safety lights and LED road flare kits. These signs will be installed in high-traffic residential areas.

The Village of Huntley will use its grant to purchase portable speed radar signs throughout the village to proactively address and mitigate traffic speed issues, ensuring safer road conditions for all residents and visitors.

The Village of Lily Lake will use its grant to purchase a severe weather warning siren projected to reach a one-mile radius. This provides coverage to approximately 1,000 residents of Lily Lake, 80 residences in surrounding unincorporated communities, and an additional 200 residents during easterly winds.

The Village of Monee will use its grant for camera systems on their water tower to monitor severe weather events, ensuring early detection and prompt response, and sharing data with the National Weather Service.

The Village of Palatine will purchase a public EV charging station for their downtown and existing Metra commuter parking lot with its grant. This serves commuters, residents in nearby apartments, downtown business employees, and shoppers.

The Village of Peotone will use its grant for two solar speed signs near schools to monitor and analyze speeding patterns, significantly improving traffic safety for students and residents.

The Village of Round Lake Beach will purchase five solar-powered speed radar signs near parks and a school with its grant. These installations significantly bolster safety efforts to reduce speeding and enhance pedestrian safety in key community areas.

The Village of Vernon Hills will use its grant for a public EV charging station installed at Village Hall, marking a significant step forward in sustainability efforts.

The Wayne Police Department will use its grant to install three solar-powered speed radar signs. This upgrade includes two fixed units and one portable unit, enhancing safety measures to monitor and control traffic speeds effectively.

These grants build on ComEd’s broader efforts to promote equitable EV adoption and sustainable community practices. Beyond the Powering Safe Communities Program, ComEd provides various funding and educational resources to individuals and communities interested in advancing transportation electrification, including a variety of EV related rebates, a Fleet Electrification Assessment tool for commercial and municipal customers and an EV toolkit to support customers at any part of their EV journey.

Making EVs more accessible and growing the network of public chargers is a key component of the state’s goal of getting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030, outlined in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Today, there are over 100,000 registered EVs in Illinois, with the number steadily climbing, prompting EV charging infrastructure to expand to match the demand. New incentive programs offered by ComEd and the state of Illinois are helping remove barriers so that more customers and communities can make the switch—bringing more clean energy technology into our region and improving air quality for everyone.

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