RTA Board Approves Six Planning Projects
December 19, 2012
December 19, 2012
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors approved today funding for six Community Planning projects through its funding programs. The RTA will allocate over $825,000 in federal, local and RTA funds to support innovative projects that will plan for increased transit usage, multi-modal connections, efficiency and effectiveness of local transit, access to jobs, and increased mobility for our region’s seniors, people with disabilities and the general public.
“Through these programs, the RTA provides leadership by funding projects that provide an opportunity for recipients to create transit-supportive local plans. Aside from helping to reduce congestion on busy highways and improve our air quality, these plans will help us evaluate multi-modal options that can lead to the creation of jobs and build and sustain livable communities,” said Leanne Redden, Senior Deputy Executive Director of Planning.
Last spring, communities, counties, and transportation providers were invited to apply for grants through the RTA’s Community Planning program. Out of 13 proposals submitted, 6 were recommended in the programs of projects based on their ability to address legislative mandates and support the RTA’s strategic plan. Projects that have been approved for funding by the RTA are required to contribute to the total project cost.
This project will create transit-oriented development "typologies" to all 74 Metra stations within the City of Chicago. These typologies will provide a guide for elected officials and developers to identify opportunities for appropriate TOD development in the station areas, maximize access to transit, build ridership and support the surrounding community. This plan will complement the Transit Friendly Development Guide completed by the City and the CTA in 2009, which created typologies for all CTA rail stations.
This project will develop land use recommendations to support the CTA's planned bus rapid transit (BRT) service along the Western / Ashland corridors. The plan will identify land use policy changes that support transit-oriented development and develop design standards to improve the experience around potential station sites, with a focus on providing pedestrian access and increasing ridership.
This project will develop a multi-modal corridor study for Ridgeland Avenue from 79th Street to 135th Street in the communities of Burbank, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Alsip and Palos Heights. The corridor includes or intersects with five Pace bus routes and provides access to the Chicago Ridge Metra Station. The plan will provide recommendations for the corridor that ensure the safe and efficient movement of people while supporting the local economies.
This project will allow Pace to work directly with local communities to assist with analysis, design and implementation of community based transit services. Pace will contract with a consultant to provide needed services to communities that may result in cost neutral restructured services including but not limited to vanpools, call-and-rides, or connecting distribution shuttles.
This project will develop a transit-oriented master plan for 2.16 acres of land located immediately adjacent to the Village's Metra station, building off of recommendations in the Grand Avenue Village Center Plan completed in 2006. This will include a market assessment of market-supportable densities and transit-supportive uses appropriate for the site.
This project will create a transit-oriented development plan for an approximate ½ mile radius of the Highwood Metra Station, which is also served by Pace Route 472. The plan will develop strategies to increase residential and commercial densities and add new business that will improve transit ridership.
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