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.

?

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
+ Mundelein Station Area Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Mundelein $78,568
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description

The plan emphasized an appropriate mix of land uses to revitalize a currently under utilized area adjacent to the commuter rail station. Revitalizing the area with the addition of appropriate access improvements will effectively connect the station area with the Village's downtown. This project was completed in January 2005.

Current Activities

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.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $18,568
Federal $60,000

Last Updated 02.15.2024

+ Lemont Station Area Planning Study Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Lemont $100,000
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This station area planning project focused on mixed use development and improved access and circulation while maintaining the historical character of the study area. A detailed concept plans for the western portion of the Village, including the Metra station area, was prepared. This project was completed in January 2005.
Current Activities

The Village revised their zoning ordinance in 2008 per a recommendation in their Station Area Plan and developed a Unified Development Ordinance, which allows them to provide optimal transitions between incompatible land uses, incorporate design controls, and focus on transit-supportive uses. 

The Front Street Lofts, an 82-unit condo loft development located in the TOD area along the I&M Canal, is completed and occupied. Additional residential and mixed use development has taken place along Talcott Ave., also in the study area. 

In January 2015 the Village held a Developer Discussion Panel coordinated through the RTA and ULI to solicit advice from development experts on ways to proactively attract infill development near the Metra Station along two Downtown corridors, Main Street and Canal street. The report can be found in Related Reports.

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

Last Updated 02.14.2024

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

Project Details

Description

The City of Elgin was awarded a Community Planning grant by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to develop a Transit-Oriented Development plan for the National Street Station area. The City and consultant team worked with a steering committee, which included neighborhood residents and business owners, to develop a plan for the area around the National Street Metra Station. Valuable insights about the area were obtained through community meetings and the analysis of existing conditions. Subsequent community meetings were hosted at the library to refine and confirm proposed concept plans.

The plan proposed redevelopment opportunities for properties within a 1/4 of a mile of the National Street Train Station. The plan makes recommendations for redevelopment throughout the area particularly for the Clock Tower Plaza shopping center and intersection of National Street and Route 31. In addition to redevelopment opportunities the plan identified streetscape, pedestrian, and roadway opportunities to improve access and circulation near the station. The final report is comprised of an executive summary, detailed concept plans, design guidelines, implementation strategies and appendix including existing conditions summary and market analysis. The final report identified the importance of market forces and City actions as necessary components to implement plan objectives.

Current Activities

The City Council unanimously approved the plan on September 14th, 2011 as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines.

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

Last Updated 07.18.2023

+ Regional Transit Coordination Plan (RTCP) Systems Analysis 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 Systems Analysis component, initiated in 2004, evaluated the combined impacts of improvements within all areas of coordination: physical, service, fare and information. Major steps included identifying existing regional travel patterns, characterizing major activity centers, and addressing gaps between travel demand and travel supply.

Current Activities

Preliminary results from the systems analysis component were presented to the RTA Board in May 2005. The Final Report was completed in April 2006.

Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $0

Last Updated 01.18.2023

+ Highwood TOD Zoning Update Community Planning TOD Zoning Highwood $20,000
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project assisted the City of Highwood with zoning code revisions that enable the City to carry out the TOD planning principles envisioned in their TOD plan. The code revisions provides detailed transit supportive zoning standards and design guidelines consistent with model codes in the region, and creates an entitlement environment that encourages transit friendly development.
Current Activities
The zoning code amendments are complete and were adopted by City Council on December 19, 2017. The RTA will continue to monitor success of the amendments.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $4,000
Federal $16,000

Last Updated 09.16.2019

+ Highwood Transit-Oriented Development Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Highwood $125,000
  • RTA
  • Local
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project created a transit-oriented development plan for an approximate ½ mile radius of the Highwood Metra Station, which is also served by Pace Route 472. The plan developed strategies to increase residential and commercial densities and add new business that will improve transit ridership.
Current Activities
The Downtown Projects Guide has been finalized and was adopted by the City Council on September 2014. The City of Highwood was selected by the RTA as part of the 2015 Community Planning Program to receive assistance updating their TOD area zoning regulations. This project began in May 2015 and the city is currently reviewing a draft of potential code revisions.

In 2015, the City of Highwood approved a redevelopment proposal for the former Hotel Moraine site to construct 103 units of senior housing with a grocery store on the ground level. The project is currently under construction.

In spring 2018 the City announced a new residential project that adds 14 townhomes on property between Webster and Clay Avenues, located roughly two blocks from the Highwood Metra station. Plan implementation has continued with the approval of two multi-family developments on currently vacant lots, located on Green Bay Road. The proposals passed the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council in fall of 2016.

On September 20th 2017, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a proposal for a mixed-use building with 52 apartments, 2,800 square feet of retail space and 56 parking spaces at 440 Green Bay Road. The City acquired this property in 2012 and demolished the former restaurant building on it. It was sold to a developer two years ago and TIF funds have been promised to help with development costs. The proposal will next go to the City Council for approval. In May 2018, the Webster Place Residential Project was approved. It consists of a 14-unit townhouse complex in Downtown Highwood and is under construction as of June 2018. In addition, a mixed-use development at 246 Green Bay Road consisting of 31 apartment units, 9000 sq. ft of commercial space, and 39 parking spaces was approved in September 2018 and went under construction in November 2018.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $100,000
Local $25,000

Last Updated 09.16.2019

+ Mokena Transit-Oriented Development Plan Community Planning Transit-Oriented Development Plan Mokena $124,500
  • RTA
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Description
This project identified transit-oriented development opportunities for the downtown Mokena Metra Rock Island District station area.
Current Activities
After completing the plan in 2008 the Village has taken several implementation steps, including the establishment of a TIF District as well as instituting permit fee relief and grant programs

Mokena received a grant from the Federal Railroad Grade Protection Fund in April 2011 for signal improvements at the intersection of Wolf Road and the Metra tracks located just south of Front Street. This will help improve traffic movements across the Metra tracks at Wolf Road, as suggested in the Plan.

Mokena was chosen as part of the 2012 RTA Community Planning Program of Projects for assistance connecting with development experts to discuss opportunities in the TOD study area. A panel of development experts met in November 2012 to discuss potential redevelopment opportunities in the TOD area and provide guidance and advice on ways the Village can attract development. A summary of this discussion can be found in the Study Documents. In recent years, (2) commercial projects were completed; 4,400 sq.ft 'Tribes Brewery' completed in May 2018, and 5,000 sq.ft 'Current Call Theater' completed in February 2017.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $4,900
Local $20,000
Federal $99,600

Last Updated 09.16.2019

+ Brookfield TOD Zoning Update Community Planning TOD Zoning Brookfield $20,000
  • RTA
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
This project assisted the Village with updating the zoning regulations around their three Metra stations focusing primarily on the downtown area. The update reflects land use policies, goals and objectives found in the adopted 2020 Master Plan. The revised zoning code uses the latest form-based methods and theories of development regulation to assist the Village in continuing to transform the environment surrounding the downtown Metra station into a model transit-oriented development.
Current Activities
In January 2017 the Village Board of Trustees adopted the revised regulations into the Village zoning code ordinance and revised the Village zoning map accordingly. Since then developers have been attracted to the area as a place to build new multifamily development because of the revised zoning code. Due to the new Station Area Zoning code developers are now able to build new multi-unit developments near transit by right, without having to get approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission or the village board. Such developments have been built in the 8900 block of Fairview Avenue and Grant Avenue.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
RTA $4,000
Federal $16,000

Last Updated 06.28.2019

+ #53A South Pulaski Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) $510,614
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
An expansion of this route's service frequency and expanded hours will provide improved access to a major medical center and retail establishments. These destinations provide employment opportunities for low-income individuals.
Current Activities
CTA implemented the service on September 6, 2009. The service provided 175,696 trips in June 2014. Approximately 5,900 of the trips are estimated to be attributable to the service expansion.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $255,307
Federal $255,307

Last Updated 04.07.2017

+ #18 16th/18th - Midday Service Section 5310 / JARC / NF Operating Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) $928,102
  • Local
  • Federal
Completed

Project Details

Related Reports

Not Available

Description
This service from 9 am to 2 pm weekdays will operate between 16th/Cicero and Cermak/Indiana helping low income individuals obtain improved access to employment opportunities including two hospitals.
Current Activities
Current Activities: CTA implemented the service on September 8, 2009. The service provided 93,977 trips in the month of June 2014. Approximately 31,600 of the trips are estimated to be attributable to the service expansion.
Funding Amounts by Source
Source Amount
Local $464,051
Federal $464,051

Last Updated 04.07.2017