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.

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This search filters based on details within the Planning Project. The search box below allows users to search by Planning Project name.

Year Project Title Sort descending Program Project Type Project Partner Budget Funding Source(s) Status
+ City of Chicago Ashland-Western Bus Rapid Transit Land Use Development Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Chicago $200,000
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

This project developed land use recommendations to support the CTA's planned bus rapid transit (BRT) service along the Western / Ashland corridors. The work led to the identification of land use policy changes that support transit-oriented development as well as design standards to improve the experience around potential station sites, with a focus on providing pedestrian access and increasing ridership.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $160,000
Local $40,000

Last Updated 07.28.2021

+ City of Chicago Metra Station Area Typology Study Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Chicago $125,000
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description
The project assigned development typologies to all 77 Metra stations within the City of Chicago. These typologies provide a guide for elected officials and developers to identify opportunities for appropriate TOD development in the station areas, maximize access to transit, build ridership and support the surrounding community. This plan complements the Transit Friendly Development Guide completed by the City and the CTA in 2009, which created typologies for all CTA rail stations.
Current Activities
The final report was adopted by the Chicago Plan Commission in October 2014. The final report and other project documents can be found at: www.chicagometratypologies.com.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $100,000
Local $25,000

Last Updated 07.31.2017

+ City of Chicago Taxi Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Cost Reimbursement Program Section 5310 / JARC / NF Capital Chicago Dept. of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection $2,214,612
  • Local
  • Federal
In Progress

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
Taxicab companies that purchase purpose-built wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles or convert standard vehicles to wheelchair accessible vehicles will be reimbursed for the costs associated with accessible vehicle elements. It is estimated that this project may contribute 133 accessible cabs to the taxi cab fleet now serving Chicago.
Current Activities
The City of Chicago executed the grant agreement on this project with the Federal Transit Administration on April 30, 2013. The City incorporated the project into the City budget in November. The City is working with the taxi companies to refine the process for how taxi companies may participate in the project.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $442,923
Federal $1,771,689

Last Updated 11.07.2017

+ Clarendon Hills Train Station Redevelopment Phase I Implementation Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Clarendon Hills $99,980
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description

This project resulted in a phased implementation plan for advancing the redevelopment of the Clarendon Hills Metra Station area. The Village completed a transit-oriented development study for their Metra Station area in 2006; this project further refined the recommendations from that study, focusing specifically on the train station and commuter lot redevelopment. The implementation plan recommended two redevelopment alternatives. The near-term plan recommended access improvements, including a pedestrian underpass under the tracks, and revitalization of the existing station house. The long-term plan builds on the near-term plans and recommends a full redevelopment of the current commuter lot into a parking deck, commercial space and a new station house. The final report was adopted by the Village Board in March 2012.

Current Activities

Within the development area identified in the Clarendon Hills TOD plan, In 2018 two mixed-use developments were constructed within the development area identified in the Clarendon Hills TOD plan, a four-story development with 42 apartment units with 900 square feet of street level commercial at the corner of Park and Walker Avenue, and at the corner of Park and Prospect Avenues, 88 Park Avenue was completed as a three story 8-unit apartment building. Both of these projects are within a two to three block walk of the Metra station and the adjoining Pace Bus stop in downtown Clarendon Hills.

In May of 2018 Clarendon Hills received an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant for new railroad crossings gates at Prospect Avenue; improved pedestrian crossings and corner bump out enhancements at Prospect Avenue, Burlington Avenue, and Eastern Avenue/Anne Streets; installation/enhancement of bicycle lockup areas and shelters north and south of BNSF; development of a defined kiss-and-ride north of BNSF; and other streetscape improvements including plaza development, benches and street landscaping.

Reconstruction of the Clarendon Hills commuter station was completed in 2022. In addition to station improvements, the Village incorportated streetscape improvements that created a shared vehicle/bike lane, and reduced the distance pedestrians must walk to cross the street.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $79,984
Local $19,996

Last Updated 10.24.2022

+ - Clearbrook - Community Connections for Adults with Disabilities Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Clearbrook $200,000
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

This project provides transportation services to more than 8,000 children & adults with Intellectual/developmental disabilities. Clients are transported to work, school, day programs, medical appointments, community recreation, and other activities.

Current Activities

The operating service provided 6,077 trips in June 2021. Ridership has been affected due to COVID-19

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $100,000
Federal $100,000

Last Updated 09.15.2022

+ - Clearbrook - Community Connections for Adults with Disabilities_'20-'21 Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Clearbrook $400,000
  • Federal
  • Local
In Progress

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

Clearbrook continues to provide transportation services to more than 8,000 children & adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.  Clients are transported to work, school, day programs, medical appointments, community recreation, and other activities. 

Current Activities

The RTA Board approved funding for this project on August 19, 2021.   The operating service provided 17,041 trips in November 2022.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Federal $200,000
Local $200,000

Last Updated 11.28.2023

+ - Clearbrook Community Connections for Adults with Disabilities Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Clearbrook $800,000
  • Federal
  • Local
Programmed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

This project provides transportation services to more than 6,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities. Clients are transported to work, school, day programs, medical appointments, community recreation, and other activities. This is an existing Section 5310 operating funded project.

Current Activities

This project was approved by the RTA Board at the September 2023 meeting.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Federal $400,000
Local $400,000

Last Updated 01.17.2024

+ Concrete Waiting Areas at Bus Stops Section 5310 / JARC / NF Capital Pace Suburban Bus $600,000
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
Pace will construct up to 150 concrete pads and ancillary connections to accessible paths at Pace bus stops throughout their service area. The pads would be located against a raised curb to facilitate "level boarding" from the pad to the buses bottom stop or provide a landing area for a wheelchair lift. This project is matched with Transportation Development Credits.
Current Activities
Pace, from an initial list of 191 candidate stops, has completed improvements at 65 locations. At the end of March 2013, the last series of improvements were made at: 162nd/Woodlawn, SW, South Holland; Cermak at Boeger, NE, Westchester; Cermak at Boeger, SW, Westchester; Randall Rd at Wilson St, SB, Batavia (shelter installation); Halsted St at 171st St, South Holland (shelter installation); and 159th at Pulaski, NW, Markham. The project is complete.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Federal $600,000

Last Updated 09.17.2014

+ Cook-DuPage Corridor Study Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) $1,618,000
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description

The RTA led the Cook-DuPage Corridor study with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to examine a broad range of transportation system improvements to address the mobility needs in the western suburbs of Chicago. The Cook-DuPage Corridor covers a large portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is centrally located in the region. It extends approximately 30 miles from Cicero Avenue (IL50) in the city of Chicago/town of Cicero to the Kane/DuPage county line. Metra's Milwaukee District-West and Burlington Northern Santa-Fe commuter lines form the north and south boundaries respectively. The corridor spans all or portions of 51 municipalities in suburban Cook and DuPage counties and the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, an area that includes over 1 million residents and 750,000 jobs.

The Cook-DuPage Corridor is one of several corridors recommended for multi-modal analysis in the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (CATS, October 2003). The Plan includes a number of major transit and highway proposals to address congestion and improve mobility in the western suburbs of Cook and DuPage counties. These are: High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on the west end of the Eisenhower Expy. (I-290); Additional lanes on the East-West Tollway (I-88); Extension of the CTA Blue Line Congress branch to the western suburbs of DuPage County; Ogden Avenue transitway, from Navy Pier to North Riverside; Cermak Road bus rapid transit; DuPage County "J" bus rapid transit corridor, connecting Naperville, Oak Brook, O'Hare and Schaumburg; Inner Circumferential rail service (IHB/BRC) between O'Hare and Midway.

Mobility problems and potential solutions will be examined in three study phases spanning 2003-2010: 1) Travel Market Analysis, 2) Options Feasiblity, and 3) System Analysis. Locally led study components will be undertaken to formulate corridor planning standards and community development and land use plans/policies.

Current Activities

The Cook-DuPage Corridor Travel Market Analysis final report was published in December 2005. The second phase of study, Options Feasibility, was begun in early 2006 and completed in mid 2008. The RTA officially closed the Cook DuPage Corridor Study in April 2009.

All of the major capital projects in the region including Cook-DuPage Corridor proposed projects for system expansion now are being evaluated by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for the Go To 2040 Plan. In addition, many of the projects in the recommended system are now moving to a more concrete stage of development through specialized studies undertaken by project sponsors. A Blue Line extension, High Occupancy Vehicle Lane and I-290 Bus Rapid Transit will undergo more detailed cost-effectiveness, ridership, environmental and engineering study through the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study (Phase 1). Additional information is available on the project website at www.eisenhowerexpressway.com. Similaly, Bus Rapid Transit is undergoing similar analysis in IDOT's ongoing Elgin-O'Hare West By-Pass Study.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $1,039,789
Federal $578,211

Last Updated 05.19.2021

+ Crete Downtown and Balmoral Park Station Area Plans Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Crete $113,850
  • RTA
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project developed station area plans for the proposed Downtown Crete and Balmoral Park stations along the proposed Metra Southeast service commuter rail line.
Current Activities
As of the end of 2010, Metra has completed the Alternatives Analysis for the proposed Southeast Service Line. On March 7, 2011, then Governor Quinn signed into law House Bill 1644 which established the Southeast Commuter Rail Transit District which now has authority to acquire rights to use the freight rail line, buy land to build train stations and purchase rail cars.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $2,770
Local $20,000
Federal $91,080

Last Updated 06.30.2016