Southwest Suburban Communities Complete Plan to Increase Transit

September 8, 2015

RTA funding and support helped set direction for corridor along Cicero Avenue

CHICAGO – The Southwest Conference of Mayors recently announced the completion of the Cicero Avenue Corridor Plan that developed strategies to increase multi-modal transportation along Cicero Avenue from 55^th Street to 127^th Street near I-294, thanks in part to funding from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

The plan lays the groundwork to convert the nine-mile stretch to serve as a multi-modal transportation network, improving access to the CTA Orange Line, Metra’s Oak Lawn Southwest Service Station and nearly 30 Pace and CTA bus routes that travel along Cicero Avenue.

The Plan reviewed mobility and accessibility issues such as the lack of pedestrian and bicycle access to transit, nearby shopping centers, entertainment venues and employment. The plan also examined locations for bus shelters, and identified ways to improve intersection crossings. The RTA commissioned a consulting firm that conducted a comprehensive transportation and transit analysis and recommended strategies for economic revitalization for the nine-mile corridor that includes Chicago, Bedford Park, Burbank, Hometown, Oak Lawn, and Alsip.  Funding for the $200,000 plan was made up of $160,000 from the RTA’s Community Planning program and a local match of $40,000.

"The RTA is pleased to contribute to the Southwest Conference of Mayors vision in developing its transportation and economic development plan by providing funds and technical assistance,” said Leanne Redden, RTA Executive Director. “Their effort to develop this plan illustrates the type of transit-related work the RTA brings to riders and residents throughout the RTA region by partnering with local communities.”

This plan is one of many TOD planning, local service and implementation projects funded through the RTA’s Community Planning Program. To date, the program has completed more than 180 projects such as TOD, local service and implementation plans since the late 1990’s, using a combination of RTA, local and federal funds, totalling approximately $20 million.

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

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.com.