Planning Programs and Projects

The RTA Board approved this project on August 22, 2019.  This project provided approximately 3,814 trips in September 2023.

The report was completed in the summer of 2022 and can be found under "Related Reports." To advance the recommendation for improving bicycle facilities, the Village of Forest Park was awarded funding from Cook County to conduct preliminary engineering for the 26th Street Multi-Use Path through the County's 2022 Invest in Cook program awards. Completion of this multi-use path along Forest Boulevard, Norwood Boulevard, and 26th Street would allow Park Forest residents and visitors to access downtown Park Forest without a car and establish a connection to the Thorn Creek Trail. Similarly, the Village of Matteson has received construction funds for improvements to the Village portion of the Preservation Path, which will enhance connections to transit services along Lincoln Highway and to the Old Plank Trail.

Work on the project began in February 2023 with data collection and analysis, focus group meetings and community engagement activities. The project team has created preliminary concept designs for the planning area. A set of preliminary concepts were developed in the fall and were presented to the public for feedback in late winter and early spring 2024. The team is now drafting a full set of plans and recommendations for consideration and additional feedback. More project information and opportunities to engage can be found on the project website kimballcurb.org.

Near North Study Area
The City of Chicago renovated the 70-year old Clark/Division Red Line CTA station by rebuilding the original 1940s mezzanine and platform and built a new mezzanine at LaSalle Street and Division, providing improved access to the station from the Near North study area. The new 8000-foot mezzanine entrance at LaSalle is equipped with two elevators, one between the entrance and the mezzanine and another connecting the mezzanine to the platform.

The City is also allocating CMAQ funding to construct pedestrian access improvements at the North and Clybourn Red Line station, improving transit access in the Near North study area. A new Target store at Larabee and Division opened in 2013 on 3.6 acres of former CHA land. Also, the New City mixed-use development opened in 2015 on 8.5 acres of land at Clybourn and Halsted and includes 360,000 square feet of shops, 199 apartments and 40,000 square feet of medical office space. Several multi-family developments have been constructed in the study area especially along Division and Orleans. In 2018 the long-standing Wayman AME Church, which served Cabrini Green residents for many years, was sold for more residential redevelopment.

Near West Study Area
The new Damen Green Line station on Lake Street is under construction. The Chicago Bulls have opened new practice facilities as well as restaurants, bars, a team store and event space in the parking lot east of the United Center as an economic development driver for the area around the stadium. The CTA used $23M in TIF funds to reconstruct the Medical District Blue Line Station, serving the Near West study area. The station house was reconstructed, an elevator was added and ramps to the platform were rebuilt. All three entrances--at Ogden Avenue, Damen Avenue and Paulina Street--are now accessible. Other renovations include lighting upgrades, additional security cameras, CTA bus and train tracker displays and repairs to the station platform canopy.
In 2017 new multifamily developments began taking shape in the study area, including the construction of affordable senior housing on the SE corner of Paulina and Washington, as well as the announcement by the Illinois Housing Development Authority of a federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits award to construct the Warren Apartments, a mixed-income, 75 unit apartment building at Madison and Ashland.

Mid-South Study Area
In 2013, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Bronzeville Alliance completed a land use plan intended to drive economic development along three corridors (43rd, 47th and 51st Streets) and their corresponding CTA Green Line Stations utilizing recommendations found within the Reconnecting Neighborhoods plan.

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 service provided 557 JARC trips in June 2021.  Ridership is down due to COVID-19.

New Freedom funding has been fully expended for this phase of the project.

This project is in active procurement, with an expected contract award in spring 2024. 

RTA staff are preparing to begin the procurement process to secure consultant services.