City of Elgin Approves Transit-Oriented Development Plan

December 8, 2014

Planning funds from the RTA helped set direction for investment in the Chicago Street Metra Station Area

The City of Elgin recently approved the adoption of the Elgin Chicago Street Station Area Plan, which provides a vision for transportation and development enhancements in the vicinity of the City’s Chicago Street Metra Station. The Plan recommends ways to improve rider access to buses and trains, and identifies the best ways to attract residential and commercial development in the area. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) provided $80,000 in Community Planning funds toward the Plan and the City of Elgin provided an additional $20,000 for a total of $100,000.

“The partnership between the RTA and our City has created new and exciting ways to revitalize and grow shopping, dining, transportation and quality of life in our community," said Elgin’s Mayor Dave Kaptain.

The Plan makes recommendations that are intended to guide the city in establishing a vibrant, transit oriented development surrounding the Chicago Street Metra station. Such recommendations include multi-family residential development along a portion of South State Street leading into the Central Business District, as well as improving vehicular, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian circulation located around the Metra station.

"The RTA is pleased to contribute to Elgin’s vision and implementation by providing funds and technical assistance to develop their plan,” says Leanne Redden, RTA Executive Director. “The City’s effort to develop this plan illustrates the type of transit-oriented improvements we can bring to riders and residents throughout the RTA region.”

This is one of many TOD planning and implementation projects funded through the RTA’s Community Planning Program. To date, the program has completed more than 100 TOD and implementation plans since the late 1990’s using a combination of RTA, local and federal funds, totaling nearly $10 million.

For more information about the RTA’s Community Planning Program, visit www.RTAChicago.org/cp.