RTA Hosts Access to Transit Workshop

October 14, 2015

The RTA, in partnership with DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute, recently hosted the second annual access to transit workshop, Access to Transit: Connecting through Corridors. This workshop is beneficial to municipal and transit agency staff, planners, engineers, elected officials, and others who must navigate the complex planning environment under the constraints of divergent priorities, limited funding, and multifaceted jurisdictions and relationships.




Patty Mangano, Project Manager, Local Planning and Programs, served as the workshop moderator, is shown here discussing the types of assistance the RTA provides communities to improve local access to transit and improve pedestrian mobility.

The workshop highlighted the important aspects of regional corridor-level planning, provide examples corridor projects and illustrate how corridor plan implementation can result in improved access and mobility options, increased transit usage, and more vibrant and active communities.  Local examples of smaller scale, lower cost implementation options will be featured by focusing on the implementation of projects completed through the RTA’s Community Planning program.

Speakers and panelists included local staff and consultants that are working on diverse corridor planning projects through the RTA’s Community Planning program, including the Harlem Avenue Corridor (from Bedford Park to Tinley Park), The Village of Niles Milwaukee Avenue Corridor, and the Rolling Meadows Golf Road Corridor.

Representatives from the RTA, Pace and Metra made presentations on regional corridor initiatives.  Topics included the reverse commute market and access to jobs, economic development, transit-supportive land-uses, local examples of transit access amenities and infrastructure improvements, and funding resources.

The workshop took place at the DePaul University Downtown Campus on October 20.