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.

?

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 Program Project Type Project Partner Budget Funding Source(s) Status Sort ascending
+ Will County Mobility Management Program '15 Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Will County $338,000
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

This program provides transportation and mobility management services for persons with disabilities and older adults residing in eastern Will County townships. The program is an outgrowth of the county's coordinated paratransit plan funded through the RTA's former sub-regional Planning program

Current Activities

The operating service provided 239 Section 5310 trips in March 2019. This project is complete.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $139,000
Federal $199,000

Last Updated 11.19.2023

+ McHenry County Services Restructuring Study Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan McHenry County $149,996
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project evaluated and recommended improvements to bus service in McHenry County as part of the County Long-Range Transportation Planning efforts. Through this study, services were examined and effective strategies and improved coordination opportunities were identified. Short term and long term service options were recommended.
Current Activities
This project is complete and implementation activities are underway. Pace has implemented the fixed route service recommendations. These recommendations include: 1. A restructure of Route 806 to service Route 31 and the heavily utilized activity generators such as big box retail stores, a senior center, and a social service center serving families. 2. A restructure of Route 807 to discontinue the loop around Wonder Lake (resulting in a 20 minute travel time reduction) and simplify routing in downtown McHenry. And, 3. A restructure of Route 808 to discontinue deviations.

These resulting improvements have allowed ridership to remain steady, while providing cost savings to Pace. Ridership on the County¿s MC Ride service continues to grow in both service area (added Village of Lakewood and Nunda Township) and ridership (reaching 90,000 trips). Additionally, Pace is investigating a fixed bus route on the north portion on Randall Road, as recommended in the plan.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $119,997
Local $29,999

Last Updated 01.04.2017

+ Hoffman Estates Flexible Transit Service Operations Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan Hoffman Estates $80,000
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

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
Source Amount
RTA $64,000
Local $16,000

Last Updated 06.01.2017

+ East Dundee: Dundee Crossing Transit Center Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan East Dundee $99,770
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description

This study investigated a location for a proposed transit center within the Village, which would serve as a Pace bus hub and Park-N-Ride facility. At the time of the study it was determined that a comprehensive transit center located within Dundee Crossing would not be viable due low ridership demand coupled with the location of adjunct transit centers in Elgin and Prairie Stone. The study also included a preliminary assessment for adding Pace bus service on Route 72 from the Village to Prairie Stone business park. The study also recommended designing the strategic parcels identified in the study to be transit-friendly to achieve economic development objectives.

Current Activities

The final report was completed in November 2010. Per a recommendation in the plan, the Village updated their zoning ordinance to allow more transit-supportive uses. Recently, two phases of an IHDA-approved senior living development have been completed at the Northwest corner of Routes 72 & 25: River Haven Place (68 units) and Gardiner Place (80 units). Currently the Village is looking for ways to improve access to the area Pace Bus routes. The RTA is providing assistance as needed.

The Village is in the process of preparing Dundee Crossing for development and investment using these strategies: 1) Created a mixed-use district master plan. 2) Created a Tax Increment Financing District. 2) Revised its Planned Unit Development Ordinance. 4) Initiated engineering for streetscape improvements.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $79,816
Local $19,954

Last Updated 05.08.2023

+ Lemont Developer Discussion Panel Community Planning Developer Panel Lemont $3,000
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Description
The Village was selected for inclusion in the 2014 Community Planning Program of Projects for a ULI Developer Discussion Panel. The Discussion was used by the Village to solicit guidance on ways to proactively attract infill development near the Metra Station as well as along the Downtown Main Street corridor
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $3,000

Last Updated 11.17.2016

+ Oak Park Intermodal Station Area Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Oak Park $241,518
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This study examined ways to increase usage of the station, increase access to the station by alternative modes of transportation, enhance transfers between modes at the station, and integrate with development plans.
Current Activities

This project was completed in May 2005. In late November 2011, it was announced that the West Cook County Housing Collaborative received a nearly $3 million grant for its transit-oriented development strategy to update comprehensive plans and to create a sustainable transit-oriented development fund for the communities of Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood and Oak Park. The communities are completed Comprehensive Plans that include recommendations for priority redevelopment parcels in each community's TOD area. 

Many development projects have been completed in the Village's TOD areas. Construction was completed on a 21-story mixed-use building at Lake Street and Forest Avenue, called Vantage Oak Park, in summer of 2016 with the first units occupied in July. The development includes 270 rental apartments, 25,000SF of ground-level retail and an integrated parking garage with 288 residential spaces and 300 public spaces. Another mixed-use residential, retail and parking project, called Oak Park Station, opened in late 2017 on the Village-owned Westgate site between Lake Street and North Boulevard just east of Harlem Avenue. Oak Park Station features a 20-story tower and five-story building that include 270 rental apartments, 28,000 square feet of retail and a five-story parking garage with 428 spaces for residential, retail, and public use. Additionally, a new transit-oriented development on the southeast corner of South Boulevard and Harlem Avenue was completed in 2019. The building, known as Eleven 33, is a mixed-use structure consisting of approximately 263 rental apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail and a 400 space parking garage. These new developments encourage increased ridership on all available transit services in the downtown area by adding a significant number of residential units within walking distance of CTA, Metra and Pace service. 

The Village is also planning an extension of the Marion Street streetscape improvements west on South Boulevard to Harlem Avenue to enhance pedestrian and bicycle mobility and access to surrounding transit service. These improvements would include wider sidewalks, shorter intersection crosswalk distances improved lighting and public seating. The project is partially funded through the Transportation, Community and System Preservation Program (TCSP).

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $181,518
Federal $60,000

Last Updated 02.14.2024

+ Pace I-294 Tri-State Market and Facilities Feasibility Study Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan Pace Suburban Bus $238,095
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description

This project included a transit market and facilities assessment of the I-294 Tri-State corridor from 159th Street Interchange in Markham to the Balmoral Interchange in Rosemont that encompasses a 5-mile radius on either side of the corridor. The assessment identified transit markets along I-294 to inform where future routes and investments in transit infrastructure could be made when the Tri-State is rebuilt, providing incentives for commuters to use public transit.

Current Activities

Preferred service concepts and station concepts were documented in a report pushlished December 2021. The final report can be found under Related Studies. The RTA will monitor for implementation of the report recommendations.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $47,619
Federal $190,476

Last Updated 07.18.2022

+ Bellwood Developer Discussion Panel Community Planning Developer Panel Bellwood $3,000
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Description
The RTA coordinated with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to bring in a panel of development experts to the Village to provide guidance and advice on ways the community can attract TOD investment along St. Charles Road near the Bellwood Metra station.
Current Activities
This Discussion Panel took place on November 17, 2014 and a summary report of this discussion can be found below in the Study Documents.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $3,000

Last Updated 11.30.2015

+ Regional Transit Coordination Plan (RTCP) Management Plan Mobility Management Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) $0
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

The Regional Transit Coordination Plan is an ongoing multi-year program aimed at enhancing regional mobility by facilitating seamless travel on public transportation.

In accordance with the informal Management Plan, the Service Boards (the CTA, Metra and Pace) have been actively involved in every component of the plan, with overall program management provided by the RTA. Other agencies have been involved as appropriate. For example, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been an active participant in several components to date. Other municipalities and transportation agencies will be included as specific recommendations are considered and implemented.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $0

Last Updated 01.18.2023

+ Chicago Ridge Metra Station and Pace Route Access Improvements Access to Transit Program Pedestrian Access to Transit Chicago Ridge $998,239
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

The project funds pedestrian-related improvements along Ridgeland Avenue between 102nd and 111th Streets, which is served by the Chicago Ridge Metra station and Pace Route 384. Improvements include a new crosswalk, pedestrian signal countdowns, pavement striping, pedestrian railroad safety gates, ornamental lighting, way-finding signs, and bike racks.

Current Activities

Project completed.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $199,647
Federal $798,592

Last Updated 10.17.2022