Planning Programs and Projects

Kendall Area Transit is a demand responsive dial-a-ride service that serves primarily senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the urban portions of Kendall County. The service is also open to general public. Service is provided Monday-Friday from 6:00 AM -7:00 PM except certain holidays. Operating portion of the award. This is an existing program.

The RTA assisted the Village of Homewood to prepare a transit-oriented development plan for downtown Homewood and areas surrounding the Homewood Metra and Amtrak station. Leveraging the ongoing station renovations, the goals of the planning study included identifying strategies to attract investment and development, retaining existing character/historic preservation, and increasing access to transit services in the downtown. With a locally-driven planning vision, the plan presents strategies and projects to foster Downtown population growth, identify new uses for vacant buildings, increase transit ridership, and increase the number of people visiting and spending time in Downtown Homewood. 

The Ride in Kane project coordinates dial-a-ride services in Kane County for older adults and persons with disabilities. The sponsors of this project include multiple private non-profit organizations and local units of government. The award includes funding to support a position to lead mobility management efforts for Ride in Kane. This is an existing Section 5310 funded project.

The RTA is assisting Pace to prepare a corridor study examining South Halsted St. between the Pace/Metra Harvey Transportation Center and the Pace Chicago Heights Terminal. Goals of the study are to increase transportation resilience, encourage transit-oriented development (TOD), and improve pedestrian accessibility, sidewalks, crosswalks, access to developments, and connectivity. The study will include coordination with Harvey, South Holland, East Hazel Crest, Homewood, Glenwood, and Chicago Heights.  The study will also offer strategies to prepare the corridor for Pace Pulse service and will identify future high frequency service station locations.

This project provides transportation support individuals with disabilities. The door-to-door transportation services are vital to allow persons enrolled at CTF greater access to their daily supports including community employment, day programs, social and recreational activities, and medical appointments. This award includes funding for a mobility manager. This is an existing Section 5310 funded project.

Individuals with disabilities are transported from their homes to Community Learning Centers and a variety of other activities including grocery shopping, medical appointments, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities. Service is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This award funds operating. This is an existing Section 5310 operating project.

This project will convert all of the bus stops in the City of Evanston from flagged to posted stops and include the installation of ADA compliant bus stop pads. In addition, this project will install shelters, pedestrian signals, truncated domes, and new and replaced sidewalk to further enhance the new bus stops. Shelters are proposed for stops with 20 average daily boardings.

Phase IX 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 and supports county-led coordination services funded by Section 5310. This is an existing Section 5310 funded project.

This project funded the installation of new shared lane markings (AKA sharrows), allowing the Village to implement low-cost recommendations from its Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The project included the installation of covered bike parking and wayfinding at the Northbrook Metra station.

The MCRide program provides countywide coordinated dial-a-ride service to seniors and individuals with disabilities operating seven days of the week, from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. This is an existing Section 5310 operating project.