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 Program Project Type Project Partner Budget Funding Source(s) Status Sort descending
+ Berkeley Pace Route Access Improvements Phase I Access to Transit Program Pedestrian Access to Transit Berkeley $50,000
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

This project funded Phase I engineering necessary for future sidewalk network improvements that will provide access from residential neighborhoods south of St. Charles Road to Pace Bus Route 313. Engineering was completed for sidewalk gaps along Lee Boulevard, Morris Avenue, Rohde Avenue, Spencer Avenue, and Jerele Boulevard.

Current Activities

Phase I engineering activities are complete and the RTA awarded Phase II and Construction funding in late 2023.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $50,000

Last Updated 01.03.2024

+ Wheeling Station Area Planning Study Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Wheeling $75,000
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project provided a coordinated plan for the redevelopment of the area around the Wheeling Metra Station, focusing on commercial and residential land uses. This project was completed in April 2004.
Current Activities

In 2009 the Village constructed a new Village Hall per a recommendation in the Plan and in 2014 the Village updated their zoning code to create mixed-use districts around the Metra station to allow, encourage and attract higher-density development.

In 2008, the Village acquired the 11-acre Wickes furniture site just north/northeast of the Metra station which was developed as the Wheeling Town Center featuring over 300 apartments and 100,000 square feet of retail. It is anchored by a dinner theater, and restaurants ranging from fast-casual to elegant dining. In 2019 the Town Center won the Cisco's Development of the Year Award.

A 288-unit luxury, multi-family development called Northgate Crossings, located at Dundee Road within walking distance of the Wheeling Metra station was completed in fall of 2016. This project was designed to appeal to young professionals, empty nesters and corporate transferees interested in a walkable, transit-served suburban location near dining and entertainment. 

Uptown 500 is a $90 million, transit-oriented, master-planned, mixed-use development was constructed on the northwest corner of Dundee Road and Northgate Parkway across the street from the Wheeling Town Center. Uptown 500, completed in 2020, features 321 luxury apartment units and 10,500 square feet of retail space within walking distance of the Wheeling Metra Station and the nearly 100-acre Heritage Park operated by the Wheeling Park District. 

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $15,000
Federal $60,000

Last Updated 02.14.2024

+ Ride to Work Program Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Safer Foundation $22,000
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
This project will provide reverse commute employment transportation for low-income persons who have criminal records and are residing in Cook County. The daily service, to be operated by a private contractor, will cover three employment shifts. Individuals will be transported to and from five designated pick-up points in the City of Chicago to employers located in the suburbs. The designated pick-up points may all be accessed through CTA.
Current Activities
The grant contract with the Safer Foundation was executed effective August 11, 2010. Funds for this service were exhausted in August 2011. In its last year of funding the project averaged 153 trips per month. The Safer Foundation is continuing the service with its own resources. This project is complete.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $11,000
Federal $11,000

Last Updated 06.13.2019

+ Regional Transit Coordination Plan (RTCP) Service Coordination Component 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.

The focus of the service coordination component, presented to the RTA Board in May 2003, was to identify and explore options to better serve important regional travel markets requiring improved connections between components of the existing transit system. Fifteen major activity centers were identified based on total employment, social services, regional attractions, or some combination of these important trip-generating activities. Analysis confirmed that while downtown Chicago destinations are well served by transit from throughout the region, suburban and other outlying city destinations are not so well served by transit. For some targeted travel markets, the study identified minor schedule changes that would be cost-effective ways to improve service coordination. Other travel markets would require service additions, which are more costly and less likely to be cost-effective, at least on an incremental basis.

Current Activities

Specific service coordination improvements are being developed through the RTA's Community Planning and Sub-Regional Planning Programs and are being implemented through the RTA's Innovation, Coordination & Enhancement (ICE) Program.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $0

Last Updated 01.18.2023

+ Kendall Community Transit Program '08 Section 5310 / JARC / NF Capital - Operating Kendall County $900,074
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

The vehicles and operations funded by this program will be used for demand responsive paratransit service to provide door-to-door service for populations of the disabled, low income, and senior populations in the urban portions of Kendall County. The project is designed to be the first phase of a countywide general public transportation system.

Current Activities

The operating service provided 1,644 trips in April 2013. This project is complete.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $387,915
Federal $512,159

Last Updated 11.08.2021

+ Elburn TOD Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Elburn $124,909
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports
Description

The RTA assisted the Village with developing a TOD plan for downtown Elburn and the areas near the Elburn Metra station. Plan objectives included identifying ways to unify and connect the downtown business district with the Metra station and TOD development south of the station and identifying development opportunities that support a vibrant area serving the entire village while incorporating the Metra station as a focal point of new development.

Current Activities

Work on this project began in 2021 with an existing conditions analysis and a series of community engagement events and surveys.  After developing a set of recommendations and implementation steps, the project team presented the draft plan at the third public workshop in April 2022. The Elburn Village Board adopted the plan as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan at their July 18 meeting after receiving a unanimous recommendation for adoption from the Planning Commission. The adopted plan is available under "Related Reports."

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $106,173
Local $18,736

Last Updated 05.22.2023

+ DuPage County Transit Plan Update Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan DuPage County $118,533
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project, sponsored by DuPage County, updated the DuPage County 2002 Transit Plan by developing a phased implementation of projects identified in the plan over a 20 year horizon.
Current Activities
The final plan is complete and was approved by the Public Transit Committee of the DuPage County Board in November 2011. The RTA, partnering with DuPage County, DuPage Mayors and Mangers, and Service Boards, launched a marketing campaign to promote transit in the County. Funded primarily through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant, the campaign intends to inform residents and employees in the county of their transit options and encourage them to ride public transportation. The campaign began in October 2014 and will continue to the end of 2015 and utilizes tactics such as billboards, online advertisements, marketing collateral (door hangers), mall displays, newspaper advertisement and community engagement.

CMAQ approved the RTA's submittal to fund 80% of the cost for local access to transit capital improvements for the Village of Glen Ellyn, as recommended in the DuPage County Transit Plan Update. The RTA has approved the local match as part of the 2014 budget. Installation of these improvements will begin in 2015.

In late 2013 the City of Aurora received CMAQ approval for the Station Blvd Extension to IL 59 Commuter Parking Lot project. This project funded Engineering and Construction for a new driveway to the IL 59 Commuter parking lot along the Metra BNSF Line, allowing for Park-n-Ride opportunities, as recommended in the DuPage County Transit Plan Update CP project. For more information please visit http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/mobility/strategic-investment/cmaq.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $50,000
Local $68,533

Last Updated 08.08.2017

+ Evanston Transportation Center Planning Study Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Evanston $99,210
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description
The Evanston Transportation Center Planning Study developed conceptual plans for access improvements within and between the Evanston Davis Street transit stations and the existing and planned development in downtown Evanston. Wayfinding and pedestrian access improvements were particularily emphasized as nearly half of commuters access the stations by walking. The study also recommended specific improvements at an existing bus transfer location and a review of existing bus services to assess whether it is meeting the needs of the current transit market.
Current Activities
The study was completed in August 2001. The City incorporated design recommendations from the study, including a pedestrian ramp to the Davis Station. Mixed-use development has also been built adjacent to the east and north of the Davis St. Station.

The City was selected as part of the 2015 RTA Community Planning Program to explore ways to create a TOD Parking Policy throughout the City.

In May 2020 the Evanston City Council approved an 18-story, 210,000 sq. ft. office project to be located less than 1,000 feet from both the 'L' and Metra rail service, the first high-rise office building to be constructed in the city in 20 years.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $69,447
Local $29,763

Last Updated 06.03.2020

+ Mount Prospect Downtown Implementation Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Mount Prospect $98,595
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description

This study built off an initial downtown strategic plan completed by the Village in 1998. The Village was successful in implementing much of that plan; this plan focused on the remaining redevelopment opportunity sites and provides recommendations to improve multi-modal access to the Metra station and the Village's downtown.

Current Activities

The final plan is complete and was accepted by the Village Board in December 2013. Construction on the Founders Row rowhomes, at Central and Emerson, was completed in 2013. For more information please visit: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130321/business/703219803/.

In fall of 2015 the Village was awarded CMAQ funding for covered bicycle parking at the Mount Prospect Station via the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program. Extensive renovation of the station was completed in early 2017.

In March 2018 Mount Prospect took a major step towards implementation when the Village Board approved a six-story, mixed-use development on a key opportunity site identified in the plan. The '20 West' project, located at the intersection of Northwest Highway and Busse Avenue, will include 73 apartments and a two-story restaurant with 78 parking spaces on-site. It will be constructed on a parcel currently occupied by a surface parking lot, across the street from the Mount Prospect Metra station.

In April 2020 the Village approved the development of a five-story apartment building at Central Road and Main Street, two blocks north of the Metra station. The apartments are going on the site of what was once a 26,500-square-foot shopping center that featured an A & P grocery store. The building will include 97 apartment units, a 900-square-foot indoor amenity area on the fifth floor, and a 1,300-square-foot rooftop terrace.

In 2022 construction commenced to build multi-family residential units at the vacant, former Police/Fire building at 112 E. Northwest Hwy. This six-story, 88-unit mixed-use residential building is located across from the Mount Prospect Metra station.

Although this site was not identified as an opportunity site in the plan, the Village approved plans in 2021 for a $26 million redevelopment of Prospect Place, located at the intersection of W Prospect Avenue, W Evergreen Avenue, and S Willie Street. This project, called 1 W Prospect, will include construction of a five-story, 80-unit building with ground floor retail.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $78,876
Local $19,719

Last Updated 03.07.2022

+ 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