Bike and Pedestrian Plan

 

Naperville is updating its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to expand and enhance walkability and bikeability for all ages and abilities. This initiative is part of the city’s Naperville 2027: Investing in Our Community Priorities Plan, and it aligns with the goal of improving community mobility.

A goal is for the plan to help pinpoint projects (e.g., enhancing existing infrastructure and developing new routes) to improve the ease and safety of walking and biking throughout the city. The Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Department is working with A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. (Epstein) to help develop the plan. 

Your vision is our foundation

Thank you to the more than 500 community members who helped shape the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan by sharing their input on our interactive map. This strong level of participation provided the project team with valuable insights into where walking and biking improvements matter most to residents.

Using a collaborative mapping tool, community members pinned locations and added comments. Participants could also view and like ideas shared by others, helping the City identify widespread community agreement about where walking and biking improvements are needed most.

What’s next? The project team is currently analyzing the 500+ map comments and feedback gathered at our fall pop-up events. Winter and spring will feature more opportunities to get involved, including a public open house. 

Naperville Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Interactive Map: October – December 2025

Project Background

Naperville created the previous Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 1997. Since then, Naperville’s population has increased, travel habits have evolved and facility design standards have changed. In recent years, data from the city's Community Survey has shown an increase in resident satisfaction with the ease of travel by bike and on foot. To make sure that the city continues to meet the needs of a growing community, the plan will be updated after evaluating existing conditions, collecting new data and incorporating public input.

This comprehensive update will provide the city with:

• Policy and program recommendations
• A design toolkit
• A list of future projects with preliminary designs, costs, funding sources and a prioritization timeline

Project Benefits

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is a long-term, high-level evaluation of the city's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Once completed, the recommended projects will be incorporated into the city's Capital Improvement Program within the next 20 years.

The plan's recommendations will lead to:

• A more efficient network. The plan will help create a more complete and interconnected system for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Continue to improve safety. The plan will identify specific projects and facility upgrades to continue to increase the safety of walking and biking throughout the city.
• More mobility options. The creation of a more efficient network will provide people with additional active transportation opportunities to get around the community.

All projects will undergo detailed engineering and design. As part of that process, there will be additional public engagement opportunities.

This guide explains the different types of bikeways that may be included in the plan.

Guide to Bikeway Types

Timeline

August 2025: Data collection for the plan began.

September 2025 - January 2026: Pop-up events are taking place at various locations to gather community input.

Early October 2025 - December 2025: The interactive map (survey) was available online for public feedback.

February 2026 - April 2026: Existing conditions and needs assessments will be completed. A public open house will be held to share existing conditions and gather feedback on proposed recommendations.

June 2026: Preliminary plan draft and proposed recommendations will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Board.

July 2026: The final plan draft and a funding strategy are expected to be completed.  

September 2026 - October 2026: The final plan will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Board, with a final presentation to the City Council in October for consideration. 

*Timeline subject to change

Public Input

Your voice is the most important part of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. With over 500 participants in our interactive map and hundreds of interactions at pop-up events, the community's input is at the heart of the planning process. Community participation in this project has been strong and will continue to grow with upcoming engagement events. 

Join us at the public open house on April 23 to continue the conversation! 

Upcoming Pop-Up Events:

• Naperville Park District

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 | Fort Hill Activity Center | 20 Fort Hill Dr., Naperville

• Public Open House

Time TBD (evening) on Thursday, April 23 | Municipal Center Meeting Rooms A & B | 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville

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Previous Pop-Up Events Attended:

• Public Safety Open House 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 | Naperville's Public Safety Campus | 1380 Aurora Ave.  

The Bike and Pedestrian table saw great engagement from community members interested in learning more. Staff spoke with many attendees and handed out postcards featuring a QR code for easy access to the project webpage. Interactive activities were a highlight, including the opportunity for visitors to vote on their top priorities for the plan by placing marbles in designated jars, as well as creating fun, colorful designs at the spin bike art station.

• Downtown Naperville’s Halloween Hop

10 a.m. - noon on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 | Downtown Naperville

The project team distributed over 300 postcards, providing community members with information about how to access the project webpage and the interactive map. This pop-up event proved to be an effective way to share plan information and gather feedback. Staff engaged in productive, brief conversations with many attendees about the plan's objectives and how to provide feedback via the interactive map. A few dozen attendees shared their input on posters using stickers. This activity was highly valuable, as participants highlighted specific types of improvements that would make them feel more comfortable walking and biking on different roadway types. 

Impact

Implementing the plan's recommendations may involve major construction projects that could take years to complete, as is typical with construction projects. Naperville will complete construction-related improvements in phases to minimize possible disruptions. The city will share more information about impacts once specific bike and pedestrian projects are approved.