RTA Awarded Nearly $5.2 Million in Capital Funding to Help Improve Access to Region’s Transit System
October 28, 2015
October 28, 2015
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is helping to fund transit-related improvements including sidewalks, bus shelters, bike racks and pedestrian crosswalks, to make it easier for residents to use the region’s transit system. Project costs of approximately $5.2 million, with $4.2 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds and just over a $1 million in RTA funds, will be allocated to 11 projects between 2016 and 2020, pending approval by the RTA’s Board of Directors in December.
“These projects literally build the connections necessary to retain current riders and attract new ones,” said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “We are committed to eliminating barriers to a person riding our transit system so we are pleased to provide these funds to municipalities in the region to make these improvements.”
Two examples of the types of improvements these dollars will fund:
This is the second time the RTA has applied for and was awarded CMAQ funding on behalf of communities in the region. The first round of pilot projects funded through CMAQ grants, totaling $2 million is currently underway, which include projects like the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian signals in the Villages of Palos Heights and Rolling Meadows. Both projects are slated to begin this fall.
Learn more about the RTA’s Community Planning Program and CMAQ funded projects by visiting www.RTAChicago.org.
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About the RTA
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is the only transit agency charged with regional financial oversight, funding, and transit planning for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace bus and paratransit. The RTA region serves two million riders each weekday in six counties with 7,200 transit route miles throughout Northeastern Illinois. The Agency also provides customer services including on-line and telephone travel planning assistance and travel training for seniors and people with disabilities. For more information, visit www.RTAchicago.org.
Access to Transit Funding Sources and Project Timelines
The RTA has helped secure and/or administered federal funding for regional projects:
Pilot Project Lists for 2014 – 2018 funded through CMAQ and RTA for $2 million
Palos Heights
The City of Palos Heights was awarded $620,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $124,000 RTA match for the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian countdown signals along Pace Routes, as recommended in the Harlem Avenue CorridorCommunity Planning project. This project is slated to begin this fall.
Rolling Meadows
The City of Rolling Meadows was awarded $975,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $243,000 RTA match for the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian signal heads along Pace bus stops, as recommended in the Rolling Meadows Golf Road Transit and Pedestrian Mobility Study Community Planning project. This project is scheduled to begin this fall.
Village of Glen Ellyn
The Village of Glen Ellyn was awarded $151,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $37,000 RTA match for the installation and upgrade of pedestrian countdown signals, sidewalk ramps, and new sidewalks along Pace routes, as recommended in the DuPage County Transit Plan Update Community Planning project. This project is slated to begin in the winter of 2016
Village of La Grange
The Village of La Grange received $308,000 in CMAQ funding along with a $77,000 RTA match for pedestrian crossing improvements and enhanced bicycle parking, as recommended in the La Grange Comprehensive Plan Update and BNSF Corridor Plan Community Planning project. This project is slated to begin in 2017
Project Lists for 2016 – 2020 funded through CMAQ and RTA for $5.2 million
City of Evanston
The City of Evanston was awarded $56,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $14,000 RTA match for the installation of bike parking facilities and concrete pads around the Metra and CTA Main Street Stations, as recommended in the Main Street Station Study Community Planning project.
City of Oak Forest
The City of Oak Forest was awarded nearly $452,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $113,000 RTA match for improved pedestrian access and bicycle-friendly signage, as recommended in the Chicago Southland TOD Corridor Planning Study Community Planning project.
Town of Cicero
The Town of Cicero was awarded nearly $205,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $51,000 RTA match for the installation of CTA and Pace bus shelters, as recommended in the Cicero Connection Plan Community Planning project.
Village of Bellwood
The Village of Bellwood was awarded $600,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $150,000 RTA match for the installation of Pace shelter pads, bus benches, sidewalk connectors and crosswalks, ADA accessibility improvements, pedestrian lighting and bicycle racks, as recommended in the Bellwood Transit-Oriented Development Plan Community Planning project.
Village of Chicago Ridge
The Village of Chicago Ridge was awarded just over $798,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $200,000 RTA match for the installation of cross walks, bike racks and additional pedestrian access improvements, as recommended in the Ridgeland Avenue Corridor Study Community Planning project.
Village of Lake Villa
The Village of Lake Villa was awarded $264,000 in CMAQ funding and an additional $66,000 RTA match for pedestrian access improvements around the Lake Villa Metra station, as recommended in the Lake Villa Downtown TOD Plan Community Planning project.
Village of Midlothian
The Village of Midlothian was awarded $784,000 in CMAQ funding along with a $196,000 RTA match for the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks and ADA improvements, as recommended in the Midlothian Station Area Enhancement Study Community Planning project.
Village of Mount Prospect
The Village of Mount Prospect was awarded nearly $135,000 in CMAQ funding along with a $38,000 RTA match to install bicycle racks around the Mount Prospect Metra station, as recommended in the Mount Prospect Downtown Implementation Plan Community Planning project.
Village of Richton Park
The Village of Richton Park was awarded nearly $282,000 in CMAQ funding with an additional $70,000 RTA match for pedestrian improvements connecting Metra and Pace services, as recommended in the Richton Park Station Area Planning StudyCommunity Planning project.
Village of Skokie
The Village of Skokie was awarded nearly $252,000 in CMAQ funding with an additional $62,000 RTA match for covered and non-covered bicycle parking and sidewalk connectors for both the Dempster and Oakton Yellow Line Skokie Swift CTA stations, as recommended in the Skokie Swift Oakton Street Station Area Improvement Plan and Skokie-Dempster Station Area PlanCommunity Planning project.
Village of University Park
The Village of University Park was awarded approximately $394,000 in CMAQ funding with an additional $98,000 RTA match for pedestrian improvements to connect Pace and Metra services, as recommended in the University Park Transit-Oriented Development Planning Study Community Planning project.
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