Planning Programs and Projects

The Village Board adopted the final plan in June 2009. The RTA is monitoring progress and will provide implementation support as needed.

The Final Plan was adopted by the Village Board in October 2009. This project was completed, and a final report published in June 2005.

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.

In fall of 2015 the Village was awarded CMAQ funding for covered bicycle parking at the Mount Prospect Metra station through the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program.

Results from the 2002 RTA Market Survey are being utilized by RTA staff to inform development of improvements within all areas of coordination.

The final plan was adopted by the City Council in November 2008. In the same year the City constructed a shared parking deck on Grove Avenue for their downtown using a combination of local and federal funds. They are also currently in talks with developers to develop key pieces of property within their TOD area.

In late November 2011, it was announced that the West Cook County Housing Collaborative received a nearly $3 million grant for its transit-oriented development strategy to update comprehensive plans and to create a sustainable transit-oriented development fund for the communities of Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood and Oak Park. The RTA is provided in-kind assistance to the West Cook Housing Collaborative as a member of the steering committee that discussed strategies to attract TOD investment in each community. The city of Berwyn has secured $11 million in grant funding to complete infrastructure improvements in the Depot District. These improvements will include improved pedestrian accommodations, new lighting, green infrastructure such as permeable pavers, new lighting, bike lanes and bike racks. Final design and then bidding the work will continue through the end of 2017.

Near North Study Area
The City of Chicago renovated the 70-year old Clark/Division Red Line CTA station by rebuilding the original 1940s mezzanine and platform and built a new mezzanine at LaSalle Street and Division, providing improved access to the station from the Near North study area. The new 8000-foot mezzanine entrance at LaSalle is equipped with two elevators, one between the entrance and the mezzanine and another connecting the mezzanine to the platform.

The City is also allocating CMAQ funding to construct pedestrian access improvements at the North and Clybourn Red Line station, improving transit access in the Near North study area. A new Target store at Larabee and Division opened in 2013 on 3.6 acres of former CHA land. Also, the New City mixed-use development opened in 2015 on 8.5 acres of land at Clybourn and Halsted and includes 360,000 square feet of shops, 199 apartments and 40,000 square feet of medical office space. Several multi-family developments have been constructed in the study area especially along Division and Orleans. In 2018 the long-standing Wayman AME Church, which served Cabrini Green residents for many years, was sold for more residential redevelopment.

Near West Study Area
The new Damen Green Line station on Lake Street is under construction. The Chicago Bulls have opened new practice facilities as well as restaurants, bars, a team store and event space in the parking lot east of the United Center as an economic development driver for the area around the stadium. The CTA used $23M in TIF funds to reconstruct the Medical District Blue Line Station, serving the Near West study area. The station house was reconstructed, an elevator was added and ramps to the platform were rebuilt. All three entrances--at Ogden Avenue, Damen Avenue and Paulina Street--are now accessible. Other renovations include lighting upgrades, additional security cameras, CTA bus and train tracker displays and repairs to the station platform canopy.
In 2017 new multifamily developments began taking shape in the study area, including the construction of affordable senior housing on the SE corner of Paulina and Washington, as well as the announcement by the Illinois Housing Development Authority of a federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits award to construct the Warren Apartments, a mixed-income, 75 unit apartment building at Madison and Ashland.

Mid-South Study Area
In 2013, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Bronzeville Alliance completed a land use plan intended to drive economic development along three corridors (43rd, 47th and 51st Streets) and their corresponding CTA Green Line Stations utilizing recommendations found within the Reconnecting Neighborhoods plan.