Planning Programs and Projects
This page allows users to search for projects from the RTA’s Planning Programs. Users can search for projects by name or keyword from the Search bar or the Filter pulldown menus.
Table results display summary information about each project. To view more details for a project, select the + icon to expand the view for additional information.
| Year | Project Title Sort descending | Program | Project Type | Project Partner | Budget | Funding Source(s) | Status | |||||||||
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| + | Harvey Pace Route Access Improvements | Access to Transit Program | Pedestrian Access to Transit | Harvey | $55,000 |
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In Progress | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
The RTA has awarded $55,000 to the City of Harvey to complete Phase I engineering required for improvements along Broadway Avenue in downtown Harvey. The project will include transit access improvements such as bus shelters, pedestrian improvements including ADA-compliant intersections, and new roadway bike facilities. These improvements will better provide for a multi-modal downtown Harvey and will connect the new Pace Harvey Transportation Center with Broadway Avenue. Current Activities
Phase I Engineering is underway and expected to be completed in March 2025. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 04.26.2024 |
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| + | Harvey TOD Plan Update | Community Planning | TOD Plan Update | Harvey | $142,099 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
The RTA assisted the City to update its TOD Plan that was completed in 2005 for areas surrounding the Pace Harvey Transportation Center, including the Metra station, the Pace Transportation Center, the adjacent civic campus and points west to connect to residential areas and the University of Chicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital. The plan addresses population loss and ways to leverage improvements underway at the Metra station and Transportation Center to rebuild the downtown population through higher-density, transit-supportive, quality infill development. Current Activities
The Plan was presented in March 2022 to the City Council. The final report and supporting documents can be found under "Related Reports". The City is pursuing funding for various roadwork, public plazas and gathering spaces as identified in the plan and later in 2022 was awarded design engineering funds for the 154th Street Improvement Project. The project will include pedestrian safety and ADA compliant sidewalk improvements by upgrading the pavement, sidewalk, and lighting conditions along 154th Street. The RTA will continue monitoring for plan implementation activities. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.11.2023 |
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| + | Hazel Crest 170th Street Station Transit-Oriented Development Planning Study | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Hazel Crest | $55,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
The Village of Hazel Crest 170th Street Station Transit-Oriented Development Planning Study resulted in a concept plan, design criteria and strategies for redevelopment of the station area. The study also recommended improved pedestrian and vehicular access, shared parking for commuters and business patrons, and physical improvements to buildings and infrastructure in the study area.
Current Activities
The study was completed in October, 2002 however, the Village received funding in 2016 from SSMMA to complete and update of the TOD Plan to take into account changes in market conditions as well as availability of affordable housing. In 2012, the Village was part of a Homes for a Changing Region report that explored regional and state strategies to address imbalances in northeastern Illinois' housing stock. Also involved were the Villages of Lansing, Olympia Fields and Park Forest with the RTA providing support as needed. This report recommends that Hazel Crest focus on rehabilitating existing housing stock and prioritize infill development around the Metra station area and along key corridors by revising zoning regulations to allow for higher densities. Click here for more information. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 02.14.2024 |
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| + | Highwood TOD Zoning Update | Community Planning | TOD Zoning | Highwood | $20,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project assisted the City of Highwood with zoning code revisions that enable
the City to carry out the TOD planning principles envisioned in their TOD plan. The code revisions provides detailed transit supportive zoning standards and design guidelines consistent with model codes in the region, and creates an entitlement environment that encourages transit friendly development.
Current Activities
The zoning code amendments are complete and were adopted by City Council on December 19, 2017. The RTA will continue to monitor success of the amendments.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 09.16.2019 |
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| + | Highwood Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Highwood | $125,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project created a transit-oriented development plan for an approximate ½ mile radius of the Highwood Metra Station, which is also served by Pace Route 472. The plan developed strategies to increase residential and commercial densities and add new business that will improve transit ridership.
Current Activities
The Downtown Projects Guide has been finalized and was adopted by the City Council on September 2014. The City of Highwood was selected by the RTA as part of the 2015 Community Planning Program to receive assistance updating their TOD area zoning regulations. This project began in May 2015 and the city is currently reviewing a draft of potential code revisions.
In 2015, the City of Highwood approved a redevelopment proposal for the former Hotel Moraine site to construct 103 units of senior housing with a grocery store on the ground level. The project is currently under construction. In spring 2018 the City announced a new residential project that adds 14 townhomes on property between Webster and Clay Avenues, located roughly two blocks from the Highwood Metra station. Plan implementation has continued with the approval of two multi-family developments on currently vacant lots, located on Green Bay Road. The proposals passed the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council in fall of 2016. On September 20th 2017, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a proposal for a mixed-use building with 52 apartments, 2,800 square feet of retail space and 56 parking spaces at 440 Green Bay Road. The City acquired this property in 2012 and demolished the former restaurant building on it. It was sold to a developer two years ago and TIF funds have been promised to help with development costs. The proposal will next go to the City Council for approval. In May 2018, the Webster Place Residential Project was approved. It consists of a 14-unit townhouse complex in Downtown Highwood and is under construction as of June 2018. In addition, a mixed-use development at 246 Green Bay Road consisting of 31 apartment units, 9000 sq. ft of commercial space, and 39 parking spaces was approved in September 2018 and went under construction in November 2018. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 09.16.2019 |
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| + | Hoffman Estates Flexible Transit Service Operations | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Hoffman Estates | $80,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project examined the feasibility of alternative small scale transit options for the Village to improve overall mobility and access. Links to employment, medical, service, retail and other transit services were investigated. Recommendations took into account the potential Pace transit options along I-90. Additionally, a market analysis to determine the potential market was performed.
Current Activities
The Village convened their transit task force in December 2014 to pursue transit service implementation activities in conjunction with the Pace/ Illinois Tollway I-90 Transit Market Expansion project. In February 2014, the State of Illinois announced a $68 Million funding plan for a full interchange at Barrington Road and the I-90 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. This will allow Pace to offer express bus service to and from Hoffman Estates as the interchange project includes the creation of a Barrington Road Transit Center. Pace express services (Routes 607 and 605) will use the Tollway shoulder to provide congestion free bus travel. Pace is building a new Park-n-Ride / Kiss-n-Ride to support the new express bus stops on I-90 just east of Barrington Road. To link the transit stops with the parking and drop-off areas, pedestrian access under the ramps on the east side of the interchange were completed with the interchange work. The project also includes a new pedestrian bridge over I-90 to link the express bus stops on the north and south sides of I-90.The Barrington Road Transit Center is expected to open in late 2017 to match the roll-out of expanded express bus service on I-90.
The resulting increase in express bus service to the area will provide the ridership increase that is needed to implement Pace Call-n-Ride local service. In spring 2015, Pace, in conjunction with another RTA Community Planning project, began the planning process for a Barrington Road / I-90 area Call-n-Ride service. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.01.2017 |
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| + | Hoffman Estates Pace Barrington Road Station Improvements | Access to Transit Program | Pedestrian Access to Transit | Hoffman Estates | $675,000 |
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In Progress | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Not Available Description
This project will construct a new off-road shared-use path on the north side of Central Road from the existing Paul Douglas Forest Preserve path system to the Pace Park-n-Ride at Barrington Road. The path will be 10 feet wide located generally along the right of way on the north side of Central Road. Destination and distance signing along with traffic controls for intersection and driveway crossings are included. Signal upgrades and modifications at the Central Road / Huntington Boulevard intersection will be made for bicycle and pedestrian users. Current Activities
Phase II Engineering has been kicked off and is nearing completion. Cook County DOTH is now the project sponsor. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 03.29.2024 |
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| + | Homewood Downtown TOD Plan | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Homewood | $131,085 |
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In Progress | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
The RTA assisted the Village of Homewood to prepare a transit-oriented development plan for downtown Homewood and areas surrounding the Homewood Metra and Amtrak station. Leveraging the ongoing station renovations, the goals of the planning study included identifying strategies to attract investment and development, retaining existing character/historic preservation, and increasing access to transit services in the downtown. With a locally-driven planning vision, the plan presents strategies and projects to foster Downtown population growth, identify new uses for vacant buildings, increase transit ridership, and increase the number of people visiting and spending time in Downtown Homewood. Current Activities
Work on the project began in April 2023 with creation of a Steering Committee and the development of an existing conditions analysis. The project team completed a series of public engagement events in June and July to gather input from residents and stakeholders and inform the Plan’s recommendations, resulting in a recommendations memo and a draft plan document. Following a series of draft plan work and review sessions with Village staff, the project Steering Committee, and staff from Pace and Metra, the plan was revised and presented to the Village's Planning and Zoning Commission. The plan was reviewed by the Village Board of Trustees and adopted as an amendment to the Village's Comprehensive Plan at their April 23, 2024 meeting. You can read the final plan in the "Related Reports" section. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.08.2024 |
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| + | Huntley Transit-Oriented Development Guidelines | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Huntley | $105,513 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project developed a station area plan for a potential station to be located within the Village of Huntley on the potential Milwaukee District West Line service extension to Marengo. The feasibility of two sites were examined. The concept plan recommends a station location, addresses land uses of surrounding properties, and identifies parking and access options.
Current Activities
The Transit-Oriented Development Guidelines final report was adopted by the Village Board in June 2011. The RTA is monitoring progress and will provide implementation support as needed.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 07.01.2019 |
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| + | Inner and Outer Circumferential Rail Corridors Feasibility Study | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Metra | $188,721 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
This project determined the most viable markets for commuter rail service along the inner (IHB/BRC) and outer (EJE) circumferential rail corridors for the proposed Metra STAR line, a line that would connect suburb to suburb instead of travel in and out of downtown Chicago. The segments identified will be advanced in the planning process through more detailed analysis in the future.
Current Activities
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.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.08.2017 |
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