Planning Programs and Projects
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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 Sort ascending | Funding Source(s) | Status | |||||||||
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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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+ | Northwest Corridor Study | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Northwest Municipal Conference | $1,129,461 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated 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
Last Updated 10.30.2018 |
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+ | Pace Service Planning Tool | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Pace Suburban Bus | $1,052,570 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
Through this project, Pace created a new ridership forecasting application that utilizes customized market research and mode choice models. Using Pace's South Cook County, Southwest Cook County, and Will County Restructuring Initiatives as the market area for this project, the resulting data and models were used to identify opportunities for service improvements. This forecasting application will be used region-wide in each of Pace's service areas. Current Activities
The Service Planning Tool is one of various methods Pace is currently using to analyze service upgrades and improvements. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 11.19.2023 |
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+ | Chicago South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Chicago | $449,945 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsDescription
The purpose of this study was to identify public transportation improvements that will enhance mobility for residents of the study area communities and increase access to jobs located throughout the city and surrounding areas. The South Lakefront study area borders are the lakefront on the east; the Stevenson Expressway on the north; the Dan Ryan Expressway, Norfolk Southern rail yard and Cottage Grove Avenue on the west; and 95th Street on the south.
Over the last 20 years, the city, businesses, and the civic community have demonstrated strong leadership and commitment in working to address many of the economic and social challenges in the study area. This study further supports this ongoing commitment by encouraging dialogue among area residents, community leaders, institutions, developers, and city and regional transit and transportation officials.
The study developed consensus on the main transit-related issues and problems in the study area and on the most important transit system investments and related community development projects so that they can be advanced to more detailed study.
Current Activities
CDOT allocated $260,000 in CMAQ funding to construct pedestrian access improvements at the 35th / IIT Green Line Station. Improvements included a pedestrian plaza, pedestrian countdown signals, crosswalks, curb bump-outs and signal timing improvements on 35th Street to improve traffic flow. To further enhance the connectivity to this station the CTA extended service on the #35 31st / 35th bus route west to Cicero Avenue. Tribune article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-cta-35-bus-1010-20131010,0,5789910.story
In 2015 the CTA was awarded funds from the RTA's Community Planning program to study the slow bus service along the 79th street corridor and to identify ways to improve the slow zones, thus restoring the reliability of this important and busy bus route. This study was completed in 2018 and can be found on RTAMS. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 10.30.2018 |
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+ | CTA Bus Corridor Slow Zone Improvement Initiatives | Community Planning | Corridor Planning | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) | $318,595 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This project developed recommendations to improve the speed and reliability of service on two CTA bus corridors, a 7.9-mile section of Chicago Avenue and a 10-mile section of 79th Street. Data analysis was conducted to identify slow zones along both corridors and identify solutions to improve the speed of service in those zones. The recommendations include concept designs, and an implementation plan for the CTA and partner agencies.
Current Activities
Final reports for both corridors were completed in the summer of 2018 and are linked below in Study Documents. The City has budgeted funds to make a number of the recommended improvements along the corridors. The first intersection to be reconfigured in 2019 was Chicago/Milwaukee/Ogden, with additional Chicago Ave. corridor work completed in 2019. The City was also awarded Invest in Cook funding from the Cook County Department of transportation to begin building some of the improvements recommended for the 79th Street corridor. In October 2019 Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced the City of Chicago will devote $20 million in new funding for the Bus Priority Zone Program designed to improve bus travel times and make service more reliable on seven core routes.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.03.2020 |
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+ | South Suburban Commuter Rail Corridor Phase I & II | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) | $318,111 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
Three studies were conducted to study the feasibility, land use, and financing aspects of a new, high-quality and high-capacity transit service in southeast Cook County to provide access to downtown Chicago job opportunities and to complement local economic development efforts. Current Activities
This entry is a compilation of three separate studies. All projects are completed. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 07.18.2023 |
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+ | CTA Bus Priority Zones Plan - Halsted Street | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) | $300,000 |
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In Progress | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Not Available Description
The RTA is assisting the CTA with developing a strategy for bus route enhancements that will address slow zones along CTA Bus Route #8 - Halsted Street. The strategies are being developed in coordination with other transportation analyses along the corridors. The improvements will work to speed bus operations in persistent congested areas and accommodate expected growth in the North Branch area with improved transit service. Current Activities
The team has identified nine slow zones along CTA Route 8, Halsted and is now prioritizing future improvements based on feedback from the Federal Transit Administration as well as roadway jurisdictional agencies. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 04.26.2024 |
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+ | Pace Far South Halsted Street Corridor Study | Community Planning | Corridor Planning | Pace Suburban Bus | $290,000 |
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In Progress | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Not Available Description
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. Current Activities
This project kicked off in late November 2023. The project team is currently developing an existing conditions analysis and hosting a series of community engagement events to gather feedback from transit riders, students, and stakeholders. The project team anticipates completing the existing conditions analysis, market study, and identification of economic development opportunities by the end of July 2024. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 04.29.2024 |
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+ | DuPage Area Transit Plan | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | DuPage Mayors & Managers | $277,245 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This study was conducted by the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference in cooperation with DuPage County. The DuPage Area Transit Plan included both a short term and long range transit plan for the County. Throughout the development of the plan stakeholders from the county including elected officials, county and local community staff, and area residents were engaged through an extensive grass roots public involvement process to provide input into the plan. This process resulted in the identification of quality of life issues with respect to the provision and availability of transit service in the County. Current Activities
The plan was completed in August 2002. The RTA also funded an update to this study. Please visit https://rtams.org/projects/planning/2746 for more information on the updated study. In 2013 the Village of Glen Ellyn was awarded CMAQ program funds, via the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program for multi-modal access improvements to Pace Route 301, which was a recommendation made in the DuPage Area Transit Plan. Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 02.13.2024 |
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+ | Pace I-355 Express Bus | Community Planning | Transit Improvement Plan | Pace Suburban Bus | $265,984 |
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Completed | |||||||||
Project DetailsRelated Reports
Description
This study developed a plan for a fully integrated sustainable corridor through the development of an express bus service on the I-355 corridor between New Lenox and Lake-Cook Road. It examined ways of improving transit as well as transit support facilities within the entire corridor.
Current Activities
The recommendations presented in this final report are currently being applied to the Pace I-90 Express Bus Network and the Pace Cook-DuPage Transit Investment Plan.
Funding Amounts by Source
Last Updated 06.13.2017 |