Planning Programs and Projects

The new Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station, funded with $50 million in City TIF funds, opened for service in February 2015. A new entertainment district between McCormick Place and the station has been developing since 2015, including the new Wintrust Arena and four new hotels, three of which provide a connection via a skybridge to McCormick Place's west building.

A 24-story, 275-unit building in the McCormick Square area and one block from the station wasa completed in 2020 and the same developer is seeking zoning approval to construct a 12-story apartment building immediately south of it, at Wabash and Cermak.

The Chicago Housing Authority has engaged a developer to redevelop the site of the former Harold Icks Homes at State and Cermak, directly across State Street from the green line station. The new development, named Southbridge, will be mixed-income, mixed-use and will include retail space as well as up to 900 rental and for-sale housing units. Phase I, which includes two mixed-use residential buildings, was completed in 2022.

The Plan was adopted by the Town Board on November 11, 2014. The Town has initiated some implementation efforts by securing technical assistance in 2018 from the RTA to amend the Town Zoning ordinance. 

In 2021 the Chicago Transit Authority was awarded funds for design engineering to improve the at-grade crossing of the Pink Line with Cicero Avenue. As identified in the plan, the condition of the roadway and the protective rubber boots at the crossing have deteriorated over time, creating hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians. In addition, the signal system, roadway, and pedestrian gate mechanisms at the grade crossing will be upgraded. The CTA will work with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to make these critical system improvements. Changes to this grade crossing are a priority due to several safety incidents at the crossing that have put CTA staff and passengers at potential risk. 

The final report was adopted by the Village Board in November 2017. In July 2018 the Village Board approved $1,289,800 to modify the basic downtown Metra station to add restrooms and upgrade the design to what is considered more in keeping with Libertyville's historic character. Station improvements were completed in 2019.

In 2021 the 116-year old historic building at the southeast corner of School street and Milwaukee Avenue, former home to the La Villa Theatre in downtown Libertyville was renovated to include eight apartments on the upper two floors and the restoration of the building's original features.

In early 2024 the Village of Libertyville completed the installation of five new wayfinding signs throughout the downtown, including one directly outside the Metra station. This was a transportation recommendation in the Downtown TOD Plan.

The RTA will monitor the Village's progress to implement the Plan.

This project was completed in December 2010. In spring of 2011, Pace was awarded an FTA grant for $800,000 to install bus shelters and sidewalk connectors along the Randall Road Route #529 study area. All shelters under this grant have been installed at 28 stops along the route, along with necessary sidewalk connectors in certain locations as recommended in the plan.

In late 2013 Pace received CMAQ approval for Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements along various Pace Routes. This project funds concrete pads and sidewalks, implementing recommendations from the Kane County Randall Road Pace Route 529 Plan.

Additionally, Pace was awarded in December 2011 a grant from the RTA's Innovative Coordination & Enhancement (ICE) program for the installation of bus pads along Randall Road as part of this project.

RTA, ULI, and Village of Brookfield staff facilitated the developer panel discussion on Thursday, December 16, 2021. Four developer panelists were in attendance. The report of recommendations was published in March 2022 and is available under "Related Reports." 

This project was initiated in March of 2005 and is now complete. The Niles Village Board approved the Milwaukee Avenue Plan on January 24, 2006.

The Village of Niles continues to implement the BOD Plan recommendations to improve transit-oriented development and increase access to transit. Since 2008, the Village has installed paver crosswalks, decorative fencing, new traffic signal poles with arms, street furniture, sidewalks, pedestrian light poles, and street trees along Milwaukee Avenue. These improvements foster pedestrian and transit environments while spurring community and economic development.

Through the CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was completed, and adopted by the Village in March 2014. This plan identifies steps the Village can pursue to further develop the pedestrian and bicycle networks throughout the Village.

Pace continues to advance Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) along the corridor. Through an RTA Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) project, Pace will test the integration of transit signal priority technology that will allow CTA and Pace buses to interact with multiple types of traffic signal systems located on the same arterial.

Pace received a CMAQ grant in 2014 to fund the following components of Milwaukee Avenue ART from Jefferson Park to Golf Mill: Phase 1 Engineering, stations, real time information, ART vehicles, and queue jump lanes (where appropriate), which are elements of the Pace TSP Planning for the Milwaukee Avenue Arterial Rapid Transit. Pace held public open houses for its Milwaukee Avenue ART service in 2015 to solicit feedback.

Milwaukee Avenue was the first Pace ART line - now titled Pace Pulse - to be implemented. Construction on shelters and other supporting infrastructure began in the summer of 2017 and the line fully launched in August if 2019. For more information visit the Pace website.

The Final Plan was adopted by the Village Board in October 2009. This project was completed, and a final report published in June 2005.

After completing an Alternatives Analysis for the STAR Line in 2012, Metra chose not to continue to pursue the project due to a variety of factors.

In fall of 2015 the Village was awarded CMAQ funding for covered bicycle parking at the Mount Prospect Metra station through the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program.

The Hoffman Estates study recommended transit service alternatives, revised land uses and bicycle / pedestrian improvements. In 2018 Pace launched I-90 Express Bus services to the new Barrington Road Station as well as the new Route 612, Barrington Road Cirulator in Hoffman Estates.

In 2021 the former AT&T campus in Hoffman Estates opened as Metroburb, a new mixed-use district featuring office, retail and residential accommodationsin close proximity to the Barrington Station. The Woodridge study recommends the area around I-355 and 75th as the preferred location for an I-55 Bus on Shoulder park-n-ride facility. At this location, the Centerpointe of Woodridge is the preferred site due to its proximity near this interchange and site factors that support the development of park-n-ride service. Additionally, this site also has the potential to also serve as a remote park-n-ride facility with connecting service to Metra BNSF stations. Since completion of the Plan Pace has been evaluating the capacity/equipment/garage constraints of I-55 service as it related to a new Woodridge Park and Ride, as well as future development of the Bus on Shoulder corridor. The Green Bay Road final report was completed and delivered in December 2016.