Planning Programs and Projects

In addition to identifying major travel patterns and markets that could support a line extension, the study also evaluated three potential new station locations in south Evanston at Dodge Avenue, Asbury Avenue and Ridge Avenue. In May 2011, Evanston began a feasibility study for an infill station on the Yellow Line. On January 25, 2011, a city advisory group identified Asbury as the recommended new stop location. The Evanston City Council accepted the advisory group's report but funding has not yet been identified for the station's construction.

Park Forest received a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (ILDCEO) for a Phase II study in summer of 2010 to explore development and financial incentives to realize recommendations in the RTA-funded study. A Steering Committee consisting of representatives from Pace, Metra, RTA and Park Forest, Olympia Fields and Matteson finalized the Phase II study in the Fall of 2012 and all three communities are now focusing on implementing the recommendations.

In June 2013 the RTA coordinated with ULI to convene a developer panel to provide guidance and advice to the Village as they work to attract TOD investment near the 211th Street Metra Station. A summary of this discussion can be found in the Related Reports. Additionally, the Village was chosen as part of the 2014 Community Planning Program to complete a pedestrian access plan around the 211th Street Metra Station, which was completed in 2015.

The study was completed in December 2005. In November 2012 the Village met with a panel of development experts to solicit guidance and advice on ways to capitalize on redevelopment opportunities in the TOD study area. A summary of this discussion can be found under Related Reports.

Earlier in 2012 the Village was awarded a $400,000 US EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to conduct 20 Phase I assessments and 12 Phase II assessments throughout the Village, mostly in the TOD area. The Village has also spent considerable effort in preparing for a Letter of Map Revision for the flood plain in the west side of the Village Center with technical assistance and support from CMAP. Assessing the clean-up and flooding issues in the TOD area will allow the Village to pursue and attract realistic development opportunities.

In early 2015 the RTA applied for and was awarded CMAQ funding on behalf of the Village to improve sidewalks and pedestrian access along 147th and near the Metra station. These improvements were constructed in 2018.

In 2016 the Village partnered with CMAP through their Local Technical Assistance program to envision potential pedestrian and stormwater management improvements at key points along 147th Street between Cicero Avenue and Kedzie Avenue. This project included a Complete Streets on-site demonstration event to show the types of potential improvements, cost estimates for improvements and funding sources to implement recommended improvements along 147th.

In early 2019 the RTA applied for and was awarded CMAQ funding a second time on behalf of the Village to construct pedestrian access improvements for southern access to the Midlothian Metra station.

The study was completed in June, 2006. The Village is currently exploring technical assistance opportunities to update their village-wide comprehensive plan. Once this is accomplished, rezoning the TOD area is the next step. Wood Dale Station, a mixed-use condo building, was built across from the station in 2006 and additional condos were built along Irving Park Road in the TOD area. 

Wood Dale was chosen as part of the 2011 RTA Community Planning Program of Projects for assistance with developer recruitment and solicitation of opportunities in the TOD study area. A panel of development experts met in July 2012 to discuss potential redevelopment opportunities on City-owned land across from the Metra station. A summary of this discussion can be found below under Related Reports.

Phase I of the nine-building Cardinal Square development, an 84 unit building located directly east of the Metra Station, was completed and occupied in 2008. Phase II, a 65 unit building, was completed in 2015. As of October 2022, construction of Phase III (180 units) is ongoing and nearing completion. The Village, in partnership with Weston Solutions, broke ground on a new mixed-use biulding in April of 2013. This new building is part of a larger redevelopment of the Village Center and will include a new village hall and new retail/office space. Construction is completed and the Village held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 6, 2014. As part of this project, the Village also constructed a new public right-of-way, Plaza Circle, to provide better access to the Metra station and Village Hall. In October 2022, the Village approved a redevelopment plan for a 165 unit development adjacent to the new Village Hall on Plaza Circle. To implement these projects, which were central recommendations of the 2005 TOD plan, the Village purchased ten acres of land previously occupied by an industrial building. The tenant of the building was relocated to another Village-owned property immediately south of the Metra commuter parking lot.

In an effort to improve pedestrian circulation in the station area, the Village designed and constructed a pedestrian overpass at the Metra station. The project was awarded CMAQ funding in October 2015 and was completed in October 2022. In fall of 2015, construction began on Fairhaven Crossing, a 40 unit affordable residential development for families and individuals with disabilities located on Hawley Street within convenient walking distance of the Metra station. Construction was completed in fall of 2016 and the building is currently occupied.

In 2020 the Village purchased a former recycling center at 101 E. Maple in Mundelein's downtown district to encourage new retail or resident development of the site, which would be more fitting with the rest of the downtown area. In October 2022, construction began on a 139 unit development at this location, bounded by Morris Ave, Park St. Seymour Ave, and Maple Ave. The Village is also constructing water/sewer, roadway, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements on Seymour Ave, Morris Ave, and Park St to support the development. Construction is expected to wrap up in Spring 2024.

This project was completed in January 2005. Per a recommendation in the plan, the Village enhanced the streetscape along 7th Street in the TOD area in 2010 with funding assistance from ITEP. Currently, the Village is exploring ways to market their harbor and adjacent proximity to Lake Michigan as a destination and development opportunity for condos, hotel and retail. The Village was chosen as part of the 2012 RTA Community Planning Program for assistance revising their zoning code in the TOD area. This project began in April 2013 and new TOD area zoning regulations were adopted in May 2014. The adopted regulations can be found here.

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.

All of the major capital projects in the region including Cook-DuPage Corridor proposed projects for system expansion now are being evaluated by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for the Go To 2040 Plan. In addition, many of the projects in the recommended system are now moving to a more concrete stage of development through specialized studies undertaken by project sponsors. A Blue Line extension, High Occupancy Vehicle Lane and I-290 Bus Rapid Transit will undergo more detailed cost-effectiveness, ridership, environmental and engineering study through the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study (Phase 1). Additional information is available on the project website at www.eisenhowerexpressway.com. Similaly, Bus Rapid Transit is undergoing similar analysis in IDOT's ongoing Elgin-O'Hare West By-Pass Study.