Planning Programs and Projects

In 2004, the RTA conducted additional user-centered design research to better understand how people use transit products, services and environments throughout the region, and to guide specific product improvements. This qualitative field research was conducted at various interagency locations throughout the region, on trips with actual riders, and with individual users of transit products. With this depth of knowledge about customer needs, the RTA has a reliable basis for making key improvements to products under development, and for developing regional passenger information design standards.

The study was completed in July 2002 and in the same year the Village was awarded $247,827 from the TCSP grant program to construct a new station house. A senior living facility was constructed in 2003-2004 just west of the Metra station. On June 13, 2012 the Village celebrated the opening of a newly-paved, 157-space commuter parking lot complete with new bike racks. To build on this effort, the RTA worked with the Village to convene a working group consisting of Village staff, the City of Blue Island, RTA staff, CMAP, Metra, ATA and Cook County Highway Department to identify ways to improve pedestrian mobility and access to the Metra Station. The final Robbins Pedestrian Access Improvement Plan can be found under Related Reports.

The study was completed in September 2003. A new station on the CTA Yellow Line opened in April 2012 at Oakton Street, using a combination of CMAQ and local funds. The station experienced increasing ridership, with average weekday boardings between 800-900. Additionally, Skokie received Innovation, Coordination and Enhancement (ICE) funding through the RTA in 2009 to complement the new Oakton Street Station. Improvements included bus stops, taxi access lanes, pedestrian walkways, shared vehicle lanes, kiss and ride, and bicycle parking. In August 2014 a 20-unit single family home development called Floral Avenue broke ground less than 1/2 mile from the Oakton Street station.

The Village pursued redevelopment opportunities in the station area and near the Illinois Science + Technology Park and was selected by the RTA as part of the 2015 Community Planning Program to convene a panel of development experts to offer guidance and advice to the Village as they work to attract TOD investment and understand innovative financing techniques for potential development in the Oakton Street station area. The Village entered into a public-private partnership in 2018 for the construction of a 12-story, 153 unit residential development at 8000 N. Lincoln, five blocks west of the Oakton CTA station. The development, known as the Highpoint at 8000 North, began leasing in 2022.

In 2016, the Village was warded CMAQ funding for an RTA sponsored Access to Transit project for CTA rail bicycle parking at the Oakton station. This project has not yet been completed.

The Village is exploring ways to incentivize development around the Metra station as well as near Governors State University. Currently the Village is working on various road improvement projects, especially improving Stuenkel Road with new pavement and a 10' multi-use path connecting GSU to Metra. IDOT constructed a new interchange at I-57 and Stuenkel Road which improves road access to GSU and the Village. Governors State University transitioned to a 4-year college in the Fall of 2014, which will bring an estimated 12,000 students to the area each year. A 3-phase, 10-building student housing project called Prairie Place is currently being constructed on campus to provide on-site housing. With this new housing comes the anticipated need for retail/commercial food opportunities. In advance of the University's expansion, the Village worked with the RTA to convene an RTA/ULI Developer Discussion Panel to solicit guidance and advice on ways to attract investment in the TOD area and near campus. This panel convened in March 2014. A summary of the discussion can be found in the Related Reports section below. 

In early 2015, the RTA applied for CMAQ funds on behalf of the Village, via the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program, for pedestrian improvements along Pace Route 367, which connects to the Metra station and Governors State University. The project was chosen for CMAQ funding in fall of 2015 as part of the RTA's combined application.

In 2020, the RTA awarded University Park grant funds to sponsor an update to the TOD Plan. The University Park TOD Plan Update was completed in early 2023 and adopted by the Village Board in February 2023. More information can be found at the following link: https://rtams.org/projects/planning/2994.

The study was completed in May 1999. The RTA recently completed a Phase II Transit Corridor Study which developed conceptual development programs for two parcels in the TOD area; one parcel is an under-utilized parking area Southeast of the Vermont Street Rock Island station and the other is adjacent to the station. Additionally, through an RTA Pilot Project providing implementation technical assistance, a new zoning district called the Uptown Transit-Oriented District was created and formally adopted into the City Zoning Ordinance on June 14, 2012. The new regulations can be found here. 

In 2012 Metra received a grant from the Innovation, Coordination and Enhancement (ICE) Program for improvements to the Blue Island, Vermont Street Interagency Transfer Station. This project includes additional interagency signage at multiple locations, including both Metra stations. Additionally, the RTA chose Blue Island as part of the 2013 Community Planning Program to work with ULI to assemble a developer discussion panel to provide input, guidance and advice to the City as they work to attract TOD investment on a City-owned parcel adjacent to the 119th Street Metra station. This discussion took place on August 12, 2013 and a summary of this discussion can be found in the Related Reports link. The City is currently working to implement the recommendations from this discussion.

The plan was completed in August 2002. The RTA also funded an update to this study. Please visit https://rtams.org/projects/planning/2746 for more information on the updated study. In 2013 the Village of Glen Ellyn was awarded CMAQ program funds, via the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program for multi-modal access improvements to Pace Route 301, which was a recommendation made in the DuPage Area Transit Plan.

The original TOD study was updated by the City of Elmhurst in 2006 and continues to foster residential, commercial, and retail development in the downtown area. A six-story mixed use development is currently under construction at 100 N. Addison in downtown Elmhurst. This development has 11,000 square feet of first floor commercial space with 165 residential apartment units above the commercial spaces. This development is located adjacent to the Metra station in downtown Elmhurst. Completed in 2019. 

Elmhurst also secured grant funding to reconstruct its downtown Metra station. The work scope included reconstruction of the inbound and outbound platform, a new pedestrian tunnel at York Street and designated bus and vehicle drop-off lanes to reduce localized vehicular congestion. This $18 million project began in the summer of 2019.

In 2010, the City completed construction of a five-story, 253-space parking deck to serve downtown patrons and Metra commuters at First Street and Larch Avenue. In addition, a new parking deck with street-level commercial was built at Schiller Street and Palmer Drive as well as a traditional parking deck at Addison Road and Adelaide Street. 

In 2016 the City opened a 6-story, 690-space parking deck at Addison Avenue and 2nd Street with ground-floor retail, serving downtown customers and employees. Elmhurst 255, a 188-unit residential rental project was completed in 2016, amenities include 12,000SF ground level retail and a public event plaza.

This study was completed in September 2002. In 2009 the RTA funded an update to this study; please visit https://rtams.org/projects/planning/2745 for more information.