Planning Programs and Projects

This project will install new shared lane markings (AKA sharrows), allowing the Village to implement low-cost recommendations from its Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The project also includes installation of covered bike parking and wayfinding at the Northbrook Metra station.

The RTA will assist 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.

This project will construct new sidewalk on the east side of Wolf Road between the Prospect Heights Metra station and Willow Road. This will connect to a previous phase of the multi-use path on Wolf Road that goes north from Willow Road to Palatine Road. The project also includes the installation of pedestrian signals at Camp McDonald Road.

The RTA is assisting the Village of Richton Park to provide an update to the Village’s 2004 transit-oriented development plan (TOD), covering the 1/2 mile area surrounding the Richton Park Metra station. The goals for the project are to update, consolidate, and refresh the 2004 plan with new recommendations, imagery, and graphics. The plan will also include a modernized strategy to offer more housing options and create a new public open space near the Metra station. The updated plan will focus on ways to retain existing character, celebrate the Village’s history, and create an appealing Town Center for the community.

The RTA will assist the Village of Sauk Village to prepare a corridor study focused on segments of Sauk Trail (from Cottage Grove to Torrence Avenue) and Torrence Avenue (from Sauk Trail to US 30). The goals of the study include developing strategies to: improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and access to transit services, attract investment and development, and reduce motor vehicle speeding and crashes.

This project will fund Phase I engineering necessary for sidewalk, crosswalk, and other intersection improvements along Sauk Trail and Torrence Avenue. Future improvements will fill sidewalk gaps and make ADA and safety related improvements at key intersections along Pace Bus Route 358.

This project will fund Phase I engineering needed for a side path that will connect the University Park Metra Station to the I-57 Industrial Corridor. This project will complete a multimodal connection between transit and a growing employment center, making it easier and more safe for workers to access jobs via transit.

The RTA is assisting the City of Berwyn to make transit-supportive amendments to the zoning regulations along the Harlem Avenue corridor from Roosevelt Road to Pershing Road. The result will include code revisions that foster a pedestrian-friendly development style along the corridor, preparing it for future Pace Pulse service. Revising the code along Harlem Avenue is a recommendation for the City in the Central Harlem Avenue Corridor Study.

The RTA partnered with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to convene a half-day discussion panel of development experts to provide guidance and advice to Village staff. The panel discussed the development climate and potential strategies to prepare for, and attract development to, Village-owned parcels near the Congress Park Metra station.

The RTA will provide technical assistance to Chicago's Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Albany Park community to pinpoint new and expanded pedestrian and shared space amenities along Kimball and Lawrence Avenues as well as introduce new micro-mobility infrastructure and device parking to advance first and last mile connectivity near the Kimball Brown Line station. New public amenities recommended in the plan could include specific locations for sheltered seating for transit passengers and customers of street merchants, e-scooter and e-bike designated parking areas, wall murals along the exterior of the Kimball CTA station, a plaza area near the Kimball station, and dedicated bus priority zones for transfer stops of CTA bus routes 81 and 82. The RTA and DPD will work alongside the North River Commission, the CTA and others in Albany Park to finalize short-term, tactical recommendations.