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.
Year | Project Title | Program | Project Type | Project Partner | Budget | Funding Source(s) | Status Sort descending | |||||||||
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+ | Pace Transit Signal Priority Planning for the Milwaukee Avenue Arterial Rapid Transit | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Pace Suburban Bus | $118,302 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Not Available Description
This planning effort developed Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Signal Timing Strategies and Signal Timing Optimization Plans for the future Milwaukee Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) corridor along Milwaukee Avenue from the Jefferson Park Transit Center in the City of Chicago to Golf Mill Mall in the Village of Niles. It is the first step toward implementing TSP. Signal optimization improves traffic flow for all vehicular traffic, including transit. Improved traffic flow results in reduced stop-and-go traffic, improves platoon progression as well as reduced idle time; which reduces vehicular emissions. TSP improves travel speed and schedule reliability of transit, which, in turns, makes transit a more attractive mobility choice.
Current Activities
The project was completed in August 2011. Pace continues to advance Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) along the corridor. Through an RTA Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) project, Pace will test the integration of transit signal priority technology that will allow CTA and Pace buses to interact with multiple types of traffic signal systems located on the same arterial.
Pace received a CMAQ grant in 2014 to fund the following components of Milwaukee Avenue ART from Jefferson Park to Golf Mill: Phase 1 Engineering, stations, real time information, ART vehicles, and queue jump lanes (where appropriate), which are elements of the Pace TSP Planning for the Milwaukee Avenue Arterial Rapid Transit. Pace held public open houses for its Milwaukee Avenue ART service in 2015 to solicit feedback. Milwaukee Avenue will be the first Pace ART line - now titled Pace Pulse - to be implemented. Construction on shelters and other supporting infrastructure will begin in summer of 2017 with an expected opening of the line in 2018. For more information regarding the Pace Pulse service, visit http://pulse.pacebus.com/. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.31.2017 |
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+ | Blue Island TOD Zoning Code Update | Community Planning | TOD Zoning | Blue Island | $21,666 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
Blue Island was chosen as part of a Pilot Project in 2011 to update their TOD area zoning regulations in their uptown (Vermont Street station) area. The zoning updates were completed in 2012.
Current Activities
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. Additionally the City participated in a ULI Developer Discussion Panel focused on the 119th Street Station area. A summary of this discussion can be found on the Blue Island Developer Discussion Panel RTAMS page.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.30.2016 |
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+ | Hanover Park Village Center Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Hanover Park | $100,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
This project created a transit-oriented development plan for the Village's Metra station area. The station area was designated in the 2010 Village of Hanover Park Comprehensive Plan as the location of the new Village Center and this plan built upon this vision by planning for increased residential density, mixed use retail, and freestanding retail and office space. The plan is anchored on the Village's existing Metra station and also accounts for anticipated land use changes due to a planned boulevard as an approach to the western terminus of the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway. The Village Board formally adopted the Transit-Oriented Development Plan as an amendment to their comprehensive plan in May 2012.
Current Activities
The Village's TOD plan continues to encourage development adjacent to the Hanover Park Metra station. A 126 unit townhome development was completed in 2014 and is located approximately 1/4 mile north and within convenient walking distances of the Metra station and connecting Pace bus services (route 554).
Through the RTA Community Planning Program, the Village participated in a RTA/ULI Developer Discussion Panel to solicit guidance and advice from the development community on ways to attract investment in the TOD area. This panel convened in February 2014 and a summary report of the discussion can be found below in the Study Documents. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.18.2018 |
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+ | Transportation to Work '08 | Section 5310 / JARC / NF | Operating | DuPage County | $530,080 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Not Available Description
The Ride DuPage to Work is a service of the Ride DuPage system designed to enable persons with disabilities greater opportunities to obtain and maintain employment through more affordable transportation.
Current Activities
DuPage Transportation to Work, initially funded with the 2006 program, was implemented March 1, 2008. DuPage County became the grantee for the project in 2010. Prior to that Pace served as the project grantee. The service provided 2,489 trips in May 2013.
This project is complete.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.13.2019 |
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+ | Cook-DuPage Corridor Study | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) | $1,618,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
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. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.19.2021 |
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+ | Midlothian Developer Discussion Panel | Community Planning | Developer Panel | Midlothian | $3,500 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
The RTA coordinated with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to bring in a panel of development experts to provide guidance and advice on ways the community can attract TOD investment in their Metra station area.
Current Activities
This panel convened in November 2012 and a summary of this discussion can be found in the Study Documents below. The RTA is monitoring progress and will offer assistance with implementation as needed.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 10.02.2017 |
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+ | Wilmette Village Center Master Plan | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan | Wilmette | $124,128 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
In late 2009, the Village of Wilmette began a planning process that leveraged the Village's high commuter usage of the rail and bus systems to create a long-range vision for an improved downtown area. This ten-month planning and design process built upon several other studies and engaged some 300 residents in the process. The study process evaluated market feasibility, infrastructure capacity, and most importantly public opinion to create the final plan recommendations. The result of the project created a Master Plan that suggests increased densities, building heights and a mix of acceptable land uses combined with an appropriately regulated urban design and public realm character for defined portions or Target Areas of the Village Center. Additionally, the Master Plan conceptually addresses other areas of the Village Center, most notably the Green Bay Road corridor and future redevelopment which may occur there. The final Wilmette Village Center Master Plan is intended as a basis, or starting point, for any future detailed development planning, design or engineering that will be required leading up to construction and implementation of all or portions of the Plan. It is a guide and as an approved Village tool, it will provide the roadmap for future initiatives, Village leadership goal setting and budgeting and management of the downtown. It is a living document and must be easily and effectively managed and adaptable to changing market conditions. While the time horizon for this Master Plan has been identified as a 10 to 15 year program, it is important that staff and Village leadership update and benchmark the plan on a regular interval. The Village of Wilmette officially adopted the Village Center Master Plan document as an amendment to their comprehensive plan on January 25, 2011. The project's website contains detailed information and reports. Current Activities
In 2011, a CMAP-led Value Capture study looked at potential funding mechanisms and innovative financing techniques to identify ways for the Village to fund the parking deck recommended in the TOD plan. The Executive Summary of this study can be found here. In November of 2020 the Village of Wilmette gave final approval to a developer to construct a mixed-use building across from the Metra station at 1210 Central Avenue. There will be 109 apartments, ground floor commercial space, and 173 car parking spaces. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.18.2021 |
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+ | Pace Harlem Avenue Corridor Plan | Community Planning | Corridor Planning | Southwest Conference of Mayors | $197,155 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
This project was sponsored by the Southwest Conference of Mayors and resulted in a plan to improve traffic movement and transit options along Harlem Avenue from 63rd Street to I-80, making Harlem Avenue a more vibrant and active corridor in the southwest suburbs. Current Activities
The Southwest Conference of Mayors hosted a Developers Summit on September 2013 to discuss the recommendations of the Harlem Avenue Corridor Plan with potential developers. In September of 2020 demolition commenced of a long-vacant trucking terminal at 10301 S. Harlem Ave. in Chicago Ridge. The 75-acre property originally owned by Yellow Freight property lies within a 105-acre TIF zone stretching along Harlem, the largest tract of land available for development in the Village. In 2021 the Village of Worth was awarded Invest in Cook funding for a 0.8-mile long new sidewalk and multi-use path north of the Cal-Sag Channel between Harlem Avenue and Metra’s SouthWest Service Station in Palos Heights. The project will help connect Pace bus routes, retail corridors, recreational facilities, and community destinations as well as tie the Cal-Sag Trail to commuter rail service, which were recommendations of the plan. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 09.28.2021 |
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+ | North Central Service Analysis and Implementation Study | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Mundelein | $125,000 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This study created a coordinated sub-regional investment plan framework focused on the communities served by the Metra North Central Service. Project initiatives identified planned enhancements to the line and service enhancements preferred by existing riders, outlined implementation strategies, identified traditional and non-traditional funding sources for infrastructure improvements, and provided parameters for legal authority to move forward.
Current Activities
The project was completed in February of 2020 and adopted by the Mundelein Village Board in April of 2020. The RTA, Village and the Lake County Transportation Alliance are identifying a strategy to move forward with recommendations of the plan.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 05.01.2020 |
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+ | Chicago--Reconnecting Neighborhoods | Community Planning | Transit-Oriented Development Plan - Transit Improvement Plan | Chicago | $223,446 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project analyzed transit options and opportunities in three neighborhoods in the City of Chicago where Chicago Housing Authority properties and adjacent city and privately-owned properties are being transformed into mixed-income communities. The sites include the Oakland community on the near south side, the Lake Street corridor on the near west side, and the Cabrini-Green redevelopment area on the near north side. Current Activities
Near North Study Area Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 11.08.2021 |