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The Community Planning program encourages applicants to undertake a balanced, coordinated and integrated approach to community and transportation planning that benefits the community and the RTA regional transportation system, in addition to promoting the goals of CMAP's GO TO 2040 Plan. Community Planning projects are designed to address local conditions and meet varying goals and objectives. Eligible projects include:
Since Community Planning funds are to be used for planning purposes only, capital, engineering, operating, and staff or equipment costs are not eligible. Projects that seek funding for studies that duplicate another effort for the same area will be deemed ineligible. Selected projects are expected to commence within six months of acceptance notification. Funding for projects comes from a variety of sources, including the RTA, CMAP, State of Illinois and federal grants.
Transit-Oriented Development
Transit-oriented development (TOD) plans are based on the basic tenets of transit-oriented development, mixed land uses, higher residential densities and pedestrian-friendly environments. These plans produce recommendations for an appropriate mix of land uses and transportation improvements within a ¼ to ½ mile radius of a rail or major bus station or along a major bus corridor that support increased transit ridership. They also address urban design elements, including streetscape improvements, and recommend multi-modal mobility improvements to and within the station area. Eligible projects will fall into one of the following sub-categories:
- Local, County or Subregional TOD Plan
Local, County, or Subregional TOD Plans examine access and development within a ½ mile radius of a transit station. A local TOD plan examines a one or multiple transit station areas within a single community resulting in detailed development and redevelopment concept plans. A County or Subregional plan may examine multiple station areas in neighboring communities or within a county or subregion and provide broader recommendations for coordinating development and implementing TOD within a larger context.
- Bus Corridor TOD Plan
Bus Corridor TOD Plans examine access and development within a ¼ mile radius of an existing or planned route. Bus Corridor TOD Plans examine ways to increase development, improve pedestrian access and create running time efficiencies along the route. TOD Plans for corridors examine development and redevelopment opportunities to provide a mix of uses and improve walkability and pedestrian access along the route. Corridors may potentially include multiple jurisdictions; applicants are encouraged to partner with neighboring municipalities along a corridor.
TOD plans are used to guide and manage development and redevelopment within the station area or transit corridor while integrating the transit facilities and mobility improvements into municipal or county land use plans. These plans are realistic, based on current and future market conditions, community preferences and feedback from the development sector. Applicants are encouraged to set specific goals in relation to the planning process and outcomes. Goals may include, but are not limited to, increasing ridership, improving multi-modal access to transit, providing a mix of housing and commercial uses, and increasing density. The RTA strives to achieve three main goals through the TOD planning process:
- Provide residents and officials with an awareness of the benefits of supporting compact, walkable, higher density mixed use development within the vicinity of their transit station or bus corridor.
- Develop a transit-oriented development plan for the governing body and private developers to follow while planning, designing and implementing new land use or transportation projects in the station area so that the final build-out is cohesive.
- Develop and foster partnerships and relationships among service boards, community officials, regional agencies, private developers, residents and business owners that will assist in streamlining the implementation of the final plan.
Typical tasks to complete a transit-oriented development plan may include the following:
- Existing Conditions Analysis
- Residential, office, and retail market analyses
- Public participation
- Developer outreach / review of concept plans
- Development of concept plans
- Multi-modal circulation and access plans
- Design guidelines
- Sustainable development strategies / LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND)
- Implementation strategies
For communities that do not currently have a transit station, but are interested in planning development and redevelopment in a manner that supports future transit service, the creation of Transit-Oriented Development Guidelines may be more appropriate than the creation of a detailed Station Area Plan. The RTA recommends an applicant first read the "Setting the Stage for Transit" guide to assist in planning for future development. If additional analysis is needed and you are considering applying, please contact the RTA in advance to discuss the project.
More information on transit-oriented development visit TOD Basics and Resources
Transit Improvement Plans
The Community Planning program encourages applicants to develop plans that follow a multi-modal approach and include a strong link between land use and transportation planning. Transit Improvement plans focus on study area sizes such as a corridor within a municipality, a corridor consisting of multiple municipalities, or a county. By undertaking these plans at the county and subregional level, we are able to employ inter-governmental coordination that results in compatible land use and transit options. Eligible projects will fall into one of the following sub-categories:
- Corridor or Subregional Access Improvement Plans
These plans create recommendations for improved transit opportunities by identifying options to enhance local mobility or improved access for reverse commuters within a specific study area. Access improvement plans identify ways to improve multi-modal access to existing or planned transit routes and facilities, and identify opportunities to enhance transit related infrastructure. Possible improvements investigated include amenities such as sidewalks, bus shelters, bus pads and multi-modal transit centers. Additionally, these plans examine roadway improvements such as transit signal priority devices, pedestrian signal crosswalk improvements and the installation of HAWK (High-intensity Activated Crosswalk) devices. Multi-modal access and circulation, and/or way-finding and signage may be addressed. These plans also typically include land use, zoning and development components (stressing higher density) to increase pedestrian-oriented development and spur economic development within the study area. These plans can also investigate options to solve the "last mile problem" for reverse commuters by recommending improved connections among the transit services used by reverse commuters, such as Pace Vanpools or community transit services, and identifying increased roles that employers can take to improve transit opportunities within the study area. These plans provide benefits to local communities as well as the RTA transit system such as: barrier–free access and circulation patterns; increased multi-modal transit and pedestrian activity, which in turn, may reduce traffic congestion; and vibrant street life anchored by the activity/transit facilities within the communities.
- Restructuring Plans to Improve Existing Service
These plans investigate the feasibility for improved, localized transit service. If service is warranted (based on the results of a market feasibility), travel patterns and demographics are analyzed and combined with local service preferences to develop service recommendations. Potential recommendations may include the establishment of community circulators; dial-a-rides or call-n-rides; rerouting of an existing bus line; or the introduction of shuttle buses from an existing rail station or transit center. Service is typically designed to benefit residents, employees, and possibly tourists/shoppers. Often times, smaller scale shuttle buses and vans are utilized creating an aesthetically pleasing experience. Implementation of service can be accomplished through a variety of options, such as in-house operation, in which the community is responsible for both the capital and operating aspects of the service, contracting with a private transit company for capital and operating needs, or partnering with Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the RTA. Pace offers a variety of local community service options, which can be appropriate for the recommended service that results from the plan.
- Paratransit Coordination Plans
In October 2007, the RTA adopted Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP ) - PDF Version (.pdf) MS Word Version (.doc) which outlines strategies for providing transportation services in a more coordinated and efficient manner.
Paratransit coordination plans analyze existing non-traditional fixed route transit services throughout a township (or group of townships). The types of services that these plans focus on include dial-a-ride services, human service transportation programs, subsidized taxi programs, and other township and municipal sponsored services. The plans identify gaps in service and provide recommendations to better coordinate and consolidate existing services and identify new services that can better serve the basic mobility needs of residents and workers.
The following goals are used to guide all transit improvement plans towards specific actionable frameworks for implementation:
- Provide a forum in which local governments can be educated about and investigate possible solutions.
- Provide an objective, systematic planning process for the local government, enabling them to produce quality plans, and prepare and pursue recommendations.
- Identify locally driven priorities, and prepare a plan in which residents, employers and/or employees will benefit from and take ownership of the implementation.
- Assist local governments in determining and planning for appropriate infrastructure and access improvements (and transit service when applicable) thus allowing potential providers to focus on service implementation.
- Develop and foster partnerships and relationships among the appropriate RTA staff, transit agencies, local government officials, regional agencies, and residents that will streamline the implementation process.
- Determine next steps that can be addressed through implementation strategies.
Typical tasks to complete a transit improvement plan may include the following:
- Data collection / analysis of existing conditions
- A needs assessment
- A mobility needs assessment
- Analysis of travel patterns
- Public participation
- Development of recommendations and concept plans
- Implementation strategies / cost estimates
Additional tasks for transit service related plans should include the following:
- Market feasibility for transit service
- Development of service plans
Integrated Transportation and Land Use Plans
These Plans will support the application of transit-supportive land use outside of traditional transit-oriented development locations to foster the principles of livability. Therefore, emphasis will be on the provision of increased transportation choices, support for existing communities, promotion of equitable and affordable housing, enhancement of economic competitiveness, and coordination of policies and investments. CMAP encourages applicants to review GO TO 2040, the region's comprehensive plan that integrates land use and transportation, for recommendations that address the above principles.
A typical scope of work for projects that may be eligible for funding under this category may include:
- Desired outcomes of project, e.g. reductions in auto trips, increased walkability, redevelopment with increased multi-modal transportation focus, etc.
- Needs assessment
- Public participation components
- Plans, guidelines or strategy development that supports the integration of land use with the transportation network
- Implementation strategies including economic analyses, market studies or coordinated investment
All proposals must have a strong transportation component. Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with other local jurisdictions and agencies to promote regional connectivity goals. The following are examples of projects that may be eligible for funding under the above category:
- Location-efficient planning studies that promote higher densities and/or redevelopment adjacent to transit
- Planning for affordable housing near transit
- Adoption or incorporation of Smart Code or form-based codes in municipal land use regulation that include planning for walking, bicycling and/or transit
- Pricing for parking studies
- Development of housing strategies that connect to transit facilities, analysis of existing regulations and land use plan for connectivity to transit
- Pedestrian gap analysis/Sidewalk connectivity studies
- Streetscape enhancements studies
- Studies for innovative funding for transportation-related improvements
- Corridor studies, specifically ones that address freight and other multi-modal components.
Additionally, applicants are encouraged to incorporate tree planting, the installation of green infrastructure for stormwater management in street facilities and efficient street lighting within proposed corridor studies.
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