Planning Programs and Projects

This RTA assisted the Village of Cary in the creation of the Downtown Cary Strategic Plan, a transit-oriented development plan for the area generally located within a half mile of the Cary Metra station. Particular attention was given to properties located within the first quarter mile of the station and the plan details a vision for downtown with a focus on future land use and infrastructure improvements that will help to strengthen the inner core of the community and encourage private reinvestment near the station.

The RTA assisted the Chicago Department of Transportation in identifying access to transit and mobility improvements along 31st Street from Sacramento Avenue to the city limits, particularly for non-auto users (pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists). This work included collecting and aggregating data of travel trends and traveler demographics in the study area and assisting with community outreach to obtain consensus on plan recommendations. The final plan includes block-by-block improvements that can be made to improve the environment for people walking, biking and using transit, thereby improving walkability and safety.

The RTA partnered with the City of Crystal Lake to create a transit-oriented development plan for the areas surrounding the Crystal Lake and Pingree Road Metra stations. The project created a development strategy for increasing the density in these areas with the goals to strengthen pedestrian walkability and to expand mixed use and transit supportive land uses for increased travel efficiency.

The RTA and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) partnered together with Elevated Chicago, a collaboration of 17 public, private and nonprofit organizations, to develop two implementation action plans, one in the Washington Park area surrounding the Garfield CTA Green Line station and the other near the Logan Square Blue Line station. The assistance focused on CTA station access, traffic and circulation, community safety, equity, placemaking, economic development and beautification. Public outreach was conducted to generate public interest and engage partners to identify implementable actions.

The RTA partnered with the Village of Itasca to update their Downtown Strategic Action Plan aimed at strengthening the downtown business environment surrounding the Itasca Metra station, guiding development and redevelopment, building on the Village's unique assets in the downtown area including historic buildings, parks and open space, and enhancing opportunities for transit oriented-development.

This project included an examination of nine stations across the region in an effort to diagnosis the reasons for low ridership. The project will include an examination of service levels, current and forecasted ridership, service options, market area characteristics, and the potential for transit-oriented development. A cost benefit analysis of each station's ongoing operations was included to provide an overall set of recommendations for the future of each station.

This project included a transit market and facilities assessment of the I-294 Tri-State corridor from 159th Street Interchange in Markham to the Balmoral Interchange in Rosemont that encompasses a 5-mile radius on either side of the corridor. The assessment identified transit markets along I-294 to inform where future routes and investments in transit infrastructure could be made when the Tri-State is rebuilt, providing incentives for commuters to use public transit.

The RTA partnered with the villages of Park Forest, Matteson and Richton Park to prepare a transportation alternatives study. The study examined the market potential for new mobility services such as local community-based transit services, shared mobility services, and non-motorized transportation alternatives, as well as identified additional approaches to continued land development near transit services.

The RTA assisted the VIllage of Riverside with an update to the Village of Riverside's Zoning Ordinance. The update reflects current development trends and is a step towards implementing the Central Business District Plan that promotes pedestrian oriented redevelopment near the Riverside Metra station while preserving the character of the downtown. The code revisions also align the zoning code along Harlem Ave in a manner that more transit friendly and is based on the recommendations of the Harlem Avenue Corridor Plan, developed by the RTA and Pace. The update also addresses zoning issues related to protecting the Village's national historic landmark designation.