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April 17, 2026

Cook County Offers Free Technical Assistance to Strengthen 2026 ITEP Applications for Suburban Municipalities

Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways is partnering with the Active Transportation Alliance and the Cook County Department of Public Health to offer free technical assistance to help up to 15 suburban municipalities develop competitive 2026 ITEP applications. Seven selected communities will also receive $2,000 for small safety improvements like crosswalk signage or bike racks. Find more information here.

IDOT Offering Free Informational Conferences

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Special Programs Unit in the Bureau of Programming will be holding an informational conference on May 11 and 12 at the Orland Park Civic Center. Learn more.

For more information on either opportunity contact Leslie Rauer.

The Little Calumet Watershed Planning Council met virtually on April 15 to discuss the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) latest capital improvement projects and flood control efforts. The update focused on major progress at ​Midlothian Creek in Robbins and the Thorn Ditch project in South Holland​.

Beyond these large-scale projects, MWRD staff provided an update on the ​Small Streams Maintenance Program​, which assists in removing debris and blockages to keep local waterways flowing and prevent flooding. Attendees also learned about various ​stormwater resources and grants​ available to municipalities, including a summary of the most recent Stormwater Partnership application round.

Please mark your calendars for our next meeting in July, which will be an in-person site visit. MWRD is planning to take attendees to visit one or more project sites; we will share specific locations and details as soon as they are finalized. We hope you'll join us! Contact Sarah Waks to receive updates and meeting notices.

• Click ​here​ to view the meeting materials and presentations from the April meeting.
• Visit https://mwrd.org/stormwater/partnerships to learn more about available programs and funding opportunities.

Auction Recap – Thank You!

The first live Surplus Vehicle & Equipment Auction of 2026 was held at America’s Auto Auction (America’s AA) in Crestwood. Thank you to Alsip, Crete, Flossmoor, Homewood, South Chicago Heights, South Holland, and Tinley Park for making the auction a success! The next Surplus Vehicle & Equipment live auctions will be held at noon on July 14, October 13, and December 15. 

SPC Vehicle Contract Updates – May Cut-Off Dates for 2026 Ford Police

Interceptors and Ford Explorers

Currie Fleet has provided the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) with the following new updates on vehicle production:

• 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Contract #204)
• Orders are still being accepted; however, the order cut-off date has been moved up to May 1 (previously expected to run through June). A potential five-month delay is anticipated for regular gas and EcoBoost 2027 models. To bridge the delay, Currie Motors will have gasoline units available on a first-come, first-served basis. Updated 2027 price lists and order forms will be posted on the SPC website when available.
• 2026 Ford Explorer (Contract #231)
• Factory order cut-off date is May 1.
• 2026 Ford F-150 Police Responder (Contract #232)
• Orders will be honored through the end of model year production. The SPC has requested a 2027 model year rollover on this contract from Ford. 

As previously shared, Currie Fleet also provided the following updates:

• 2026 Ford Transit Vans (Contract #207)
• Production for Full Size Van, Passenger Wagon, and E-Transit models continues until the May 8 factory order cut-off date. Updated price lists and order forms are available on the SPC Vans page.
• 2027 Ford Expedition (Contract #233)
• The order bank is now open, and updated price lists and order forms are available on the SPC Sport Utility Vehicles page.
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Police Pursuit Vehicle (Contract #234)
• The anticipated order cut-off date will likely be late April. The 2027 model start-up is expected to be significantly delayed due to plant retooling.
• Chevrolet Silverado 2500 (Contract #218)
• Production continues, with a factory order cut-off expected in late May or early June. 

SPC Invites Members to Join No-Cost Sourcewell AI Solutions Pilot

The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) invites members to participate in a no-cost, no-obligation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Marketplace Pilot Program through its partnership with Sourcewell. Agencies may opt into the pilot anytime between now and August.

This pilot provides an opportunity to explore emerging AI tools and solutions in a learning-focused environment without sales pressure.

Participants will gain access to a digital marketplace featuring curated AI use cases, supplier offerings, educational resources, and real-world examples. There is no requirement to purchase or adopt any solutions. Participation requires minimal time, including a short onboarding session, optional self-paced exploration of the marketplace, brief surveys, and a one-hour discussion. Agencies interested in participating can sign up by visiting the SPC website to access the AI Marketplace Pilot flyer.

SPC Approves Lane Marking Contract Extension

As previously reported, the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board has approved the second of three possible, one-year contract extensions on the SPC 2026-2027 Thermoplastic &/or Urethane Lane Marking Material and Labor Road Marking Program (Contract #229) to High Star Traffic/dba Superior Road Striping of Bartlett. Superior Road Striping agrees to all terms and conditions set forth in the specifications contained within the Request for Proposals.

Please note that this award is not in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation, so participating communities will not be utilizing Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds. However, Superior Road Striping must

comply with all IDOT rules and regulations, as well as prevailing wage and certified payroll.

For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Striping Division Administrator Kim Kudelka, 630-293-0026 ext. 3310.

The contract extension runs from April 12, 2026, through April 11, 2027, and contains the following price increases:

For more information visit ssmma.org/spc or contact Melissa Doud.