Contact

RTA funds Phase I engineering for bicycle, pedestrian transit access improvements in four communities

August 19, 2020

Access Transit Web Banner 1110x545 1

 

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is announcing $195,000 in funding through its Access to Transit program to help four communities in Northeastern Illinois complete Phase I engineering for projects that will improve pedestrian and bicycle access to public transit.

 The RTA launched Access to Transit in 2012 to support small-scale capital projects that improve multimodal connections to public transportation. The four projects recently approved by the RTA Board of Directors will receive funding for Phase I engineering, a frequent barrier to securing funding and completing projects.

 For the first time in 2020, the RTA added Phase I engineering as an eligible project type for communities of high need based on tax base, median income, and other economic and demographic characteristics. Helping high need communities complete Phase I engineering opens the door for them to access larger state or federal programs for construction funding.

 The approved projects are described below or can be explored in an online story map


  • Berkeley Sidewalk Improvements ($50,000): The project will fill sidewalk gaps to provide access from residential neighborhoods south of St. Charles Road to Pace Bus Route 313 along Lee Blvd., Morris Ave., Rohde Ave., Spencer Ave., and Jerele Blvd.
  • Harvard Sidewalk Improvements ($45,000): The project will improve pedestrian access along US Rte. 14, Illinois Rte. 173, Marengo Road, and Ayer Street, including new sidewalks, ADA improvements, crosswalks, and a Pace Bus shelter which will better connect residents to the Harvard Metra Station and the 808 Pace Bus.
  • Sauk Village Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements ($50,000): This project includes sidewalk, crosswalk, and other intersection improvements along Sauk Trail and Torrence Ave. to fill sidewalk gaps and make ADA and safety-related improvements at key intersections and along Pace Bus Route 358.
  • University Park Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements ($50,000): This project includes building a side path along University Parkway that will connect the University Park Metra Station to the I-57 Industrial Corridor, creating a multimodal connection between transit and a growing employment center that will make it easier and safe for workers to access jobs via transit.


Investing in pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure near transit provides several benefits for both local communities and the RTA system. Each of these projects will help increase transit ridership, promote healthy walkable communities, and make it safer and easier for riders to get to and from transit.

To date, Access to Transit has funded 28 projects in communities throughout the region for a total investment of roughly $13 million in federal, RTA, and local funds. Detailed information on past projects is available on RTAMS.org

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Type your email address here
What emails would you like to receive from the RTA
Tagged in: Acces to Transit | Accessibility | RTAMS | Sustainability

Related Articles

22 RTASAMPLES 007 2 Guest blogger Jim Derwinski, Metra CEO, shares new vision for regional rail

This guest blog was written by Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. Metra has a new roadmap for the next five years, one that will take the agency in ...

March 21, 2023
221107 RTA 1608 Bus rapid transit could be transformative for Chicago area transit

Every day hundreds of thousands of residents rely on CTA and Pace buses to get them where they need to go. They connect the spokes in Chicago’s hub-and-spoke...

March 21, 2023
TOD RTA planning programs bring transit-oriented development progress to Chicago suburbs

The RTA’s Local Planning team provides support and funding opportunities to municipalities and transportation agencies across the region to improve transit a...

March 8, 2023
22 RTA 0236 A South Side mobility hub, TOD plans and more: Weigh in on selected Community Planning projects

Six new projects have been chosen for the RTA’s 2023 Community Planning program. The projects are available for public comment through February 3 by emailing...

January 18, 2023
22 RTA 1054 2023 will be an important year for the Chicago region’s transit system, here’s what the RTA is planning

2023 will be a critical year for the Chicago region’s transit system, which contributes to our region’s economic, social, and environmental health in ways an...

January 5, 2023
22 RTASAMPLES 037 Fare Recovery Ratio: What it is and why it must be reformed

After more than a year of engagement, the RTA has released a draft regional transit strategic plan, Transit is the Answer, which the RTA Board of Directors w...

January 5, 2023
RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
Copyright © 2022 Regional Transportation Authority. All Rights Reserved.