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
+ Cary TOD Developer Dialogue Community Planning Developer Panel Cary $3,500
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Description

The RTA provided assistance to the Village in soliciting guidance and advice from development experts through a half-day discussion panel. This panel discussed the development climate and potential strategies to prepare for and attract development to specific parcels near the Cary Metra station. The Final Report is attached.

Current Activities

RTA staff has developed a final report and delivered it to the Village of Cary.  This project is complete.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $3,500

Last Updated 04.28.2023

+ Elgin Chicago Street Station Area Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Elgin $100,000
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description

This project created a transit-oriented development plan for an approximate ½ mile radius of the Chicago Street Metra station within the City. The plan promoted revitalization of the area by examining effective land use, multi-modal interconnectivity, and retail and residential redevelopment strategies. Recommendations focused on streetscape improvements, transit access improvements and land use recommendations. Specific land use recommendations focused on new multi-family residential and commercial uses in the station area.

Current Activities

The final plan was approved by the City Council in December 2014.

In July 2016, zoning approval was granted for Fox River Crossing, an affordable senior housing development with 60 apartment units, at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Lawrence. In September of 2017 the developers of Fox River Crossing received federal low income tax credits, which are passed on as below market rents for seniors.

The renovation of Elgin's historic Tower Building, a 22-unit apartment building at the corner of E. Chicago Street and N. Grove Avenue in Downtown Elgin was completed at the end of 2017. Apartments units are currently available to rent.

During 2016 and 2017 the City continued with streetscape improvements along Chicago Street including the installation of a pedestrian crosswalk linking the Metra station with the Pace Transportation Center. In addition, in the summer of 2018 RTA interagency signage will be installed within and adjacent to the station areas to assist passengers making bus and train transfer connections.

Two mixed-use developments, Fountain Square on the River (200 residential units) and River Park Place (180 residential units) were recently built. A downtown festival park was also built and a bike path extension is planned.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $80,000
Local $20,000

Last Updated 02.16.2021

+ Northbrook TOD Zoning Code Update Community Planning TOD Zoning Northbrook $21,666
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
This project examined the TOD area to identify ways to revise the zoning regulations to address the transit-supportive land use recommendations found in the Downtown Plan. The result was a proposed form-based code for the Downtown district.
Current Activities
The TOD zoning code revisions are complete and waiting on adoption by the Northbrook Village Board. The Board has met several times between 2016 and 2020 to discuss the proposed form-based code and potential revisions that would address Trustees' feedback.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $4,334
Federal $17,332

Last Updated 06.03.2020

+ Transportation to Work '12 Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating DuPage County $523,162
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related 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 2,457 trips in August 2015. This project is complete.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $261,581
Federal $261,581

Last Updated 06.13.2019

+ Skokie Swift Station Location Feasibility Study Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan Skokie $159,883
  • RTA
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description

The Skokie Swift (CTA Yellow Line) operates between Dempster Street in the Village of Skokie and the CTA Howard Street station at the Chicago/Evanston border. To provide access to major activity centers such as Old Orchard Center, the Cook County 2nd District Courthouse, Oakton Community College and the Skokie central business district, the Village of Skokie directed an RTAP study to assess the feasibility of new intermediate stations and an extension.

Current Activities

The study was completed in September 2003. A new station on the CTA Yellow Line opened in April 2012 at Oakton Street, using a combination of CMAQ and local funds. The station experienced increasing ridership, with average weekday boardings between 800-900. Additionally, Skokie received Innovation, Coordination and Enhancement (ICE) funding through the RTA in 2009 to complement the new Oakton Street Station. Improvements included bus stops, taxi access lanes, pedestrian walkways, shared vehicle lanes, kiss and ride, and bicycle parking. In August 2014 a 20-unit single family home development called Floral Avenue broke ground less than 1/2 mile from the Oakton Street station.

The Village pursued redevelopment opportunities in the station area and near the Illinois Science + Technology Park and was selected by the RTA as part of the 2015 Community Planning Program to convene a panel of development experts to offer guidance and advice to the Village as they work to attract TOD investment and understand innovative financing techniques for potential development in the Oakton Street station area. The Village entered into a public-private partnership in 2018 for the construction of a 12-story, 153 unit residential development at 8000 N. Lincoln, five blocks west of the Oakton CTA station. The development, known as the Highpoint at 8000 North, began leasing in 2022.

In 2016, the Village was warded CMAQ funding for an RTA sponsored Access to Transit project for CTA rail bicycle parking at the Oakton station. This project has not yet been completed.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $39,912
Local $39,971
Federal $80,000

Last Updated 02.14.2024

+ Woodstock Transit-Oriented Development Study Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Woodstock $67,500
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
The Woodstock Transit-Oriented Development Study project focused on integrating transportation and mobility improvements into a station area plan that included the redevelopment of the vacant Die Cast lot north of the Woodstock Metra station.
Current Activities
The study was completed in November 2003. The 12-acre Die-Cast site (located just east and adjacent to the UP tracks) was partially redeveloped with a 10-unit townhome community called Woodstock Station by The Hummel Group in 2008. Six acres of the original planning study site remains undeveloped. In 2018 the renovation of the former Elks Lodge at Cass and Throop Street into a retail, café and bar and the conversion of the BMO Harris Bank Building on the Square to a Brew Pub and Café are examples of transit supportive infill development in downtown Woodstock.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $13,500
Federal $54,000

Last Updated 06.15.2018

+ Westmont TOD Zoning Code Update Community Planning TOD Zoning Westmont $21,666
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description

The Village was chosen as part of the 2012 RTA Community Planning Program of Projects to update the zoning ordinance in the Village's TOD study area to include transit-supportive regulations.

Current Activities

Although the TOD regulations developed during the project have yet to be adopted, the Village Board did adopt a new zoning map on March 15, 2018. The proposed regulations developed during this project continue to be used as guidelines for downtown projects in the Village.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $4,334
Federal $17,332

Last Updated 11.28.2022

+ - Phase VI Regional Call Center '16-'17 Section 5310 / JARC / NF Mobility Management Pace Suburban Bus $2,216,885
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description

Phase VI of Pace's Regional Call Center takes reservations for dial a ride and demand response services to seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Call Center provides comprehensive mobility management services that improve the coordination and operation of transportation services.

Current Activities

This project has fully expended grant funds.

 

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $443,377
Federal $1,773,508

Last Updated 11.19.2023

+ Olympia Fields TOD Zoning Update Community Planning TOD Zoning Olympia Fields $25,000
  • RTA
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project developed specific zoning regulations and guidelines to reflect and implement the previously-adopted Village Town Center Plan. This plan outlines strategies for the Village to attract and encourage TOD investment near the 203rd Street Metra station. Form-based regulations were included in the revised code.
Current Activities
The revised zoning code and associated design guidelines were adopted by the Village Board in September 2018.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $25,000

Last Updated 12.12.2019

+ Northwest Corridor Study Community Planning Transit Improvement Plan Northwest Municipal Conference $1,129,461
  • RTA
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
The Northwest Corridor, centered on the I-90 Northwest Tollway, includes a substantial share of the region's activity centers and travel destinations, including O'Hare International Airport, the Schaumburg/Woodfield area and the Elk Grove Industrial Park. The Northwest Corridor Transit Feasibility Study identified and compared options for improving mobility, and facilitated a locally-preferred choice for new transit development. Concurrently, the Northwest Municipal Conference-directed RTAP Study developed transit supportive land use policies and identified potential local financing sources. Of the three transit options proposed by CTA, Metra and Pace, local officials representing communities in the Northwest Corridor selected Metra's commuter rail option- the STAR Line.
Current Activities
This project was completed in December 2004. 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.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $346,487
Local $298,974
Federal $484,000

Last Updated 10.30.2018