RTA announces eight new Community Planning program projects

Eight new projects have been chosen for the RTA’s 2024 Community Planning program. Project locations include Chicago, Hazel Crest, Lockport, Maywood, Morton Grove, Itasca, Round Lake, and Waukegan with a total budget of $877,000.

The goal of RTA’s Community Planning program, founded in 1998, is to foster the growth of sustainable, equitable, walkable, and transit-friendly communities around transit assets by encouraging transit-supportive land uses and infrastructure. The program aids local economic development by increasing equitable access to employment centers, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and amenities to serve the constantly evolving needs of our diverse population.

Chicago Archer Avenue Corridor Study

This project will study a six-mile section of the Archer Avenue corridor, between Halsted Street and Cicero Avenue in Chicago with a focus on areas around four CTA Orange Line stations. The City will use the study to create a strategic plan for the Archer Avenue corridor that focuses on development opportunities and better land use in the area. The study will also seek to understand opportunities for increased pedestrian safety, better accessibility, and bike lanes.

Hazel Crest Metra Station eTOD Plan

This project will involve developing an equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) plan for areas west of the Hazel Crest Metra station. The plan aims to encourage greater pedestrian, bicycle, and commuter activity. The Village would like to identify investment opportunities in the area for multi-family housing near the Metra station, as well as create an Arts District in the area. The plan will also improve accessibility to the area and to Metra and Pace services through pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure.

Itasca TOD Zoning Code Updates

These zoning code updates would allow the types of development envisioned in the Village's adopted Downtown Itasca Strategic Action Plan, completed in 2022 through the RTA's Community Planning program. Zoning amendments will be centered on downtown Itasca and areas surrounding the Itasca Metra station and will include unified guidelines for downtown, specific guidelines for the Historic District, and updated rules for land use and parking ratios, with a goal of reducing the amount of land dedicated to parking to increase open space and bike- and pedestrian-friendly development, which also leads to sustainability and climate wins.

Lockport Metra Station eTOD Plan

This project will involve developing an eTOD Plan for the downtown area of Lockport including the area surrounding the Lockport Metra station. The goals are to better connect downtown with the Metra station and with nearby Pace bus service. This would be accomplished by identifying infrastructure improvements, redevelopment opportunities of land around the station, and improved connections for people walking and biking between downtown and the Star Innovation District, a former industrial site that is targeted for mixed-use development.

Maywood Roosevelt Road Corridor Study

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), in partnership with the RTA, will develop a corridor plan for Roosevelt Road that addresses transportation safety and economic development while promoting economic resiliency, transportation modes that meet the changing desires of residents and visitors, and economic and housing growth that is equitable and inclusive of all resident needs. The corridor plan will address pedestrian, bike, and transit access and safety and look into the potential for economic development such as housing and commercial space.

Morton Grove Dempster Street Corridor Study

This project will re-envision the Dempster Street corridor which is served by Pace Pulse. The corridor plan will provide a cohesive vision for Dempster Street that connects transit, expands retail and employment-generating development, and identifies opportunities for new housing. The Village hopes to broaden diversity in housing choices along the corridor, attract investment and development, and better manage parking.

Round Lake Development Dialogue

Through its partnership with the Urban Land Institute, the RTA will support the Village of Round Lake as they seek feedback from members of the private development community on Village strategies to attract development at seven Village-owned parcels in the downtown area near the Round Lake Metra station.

Waukegan Metra Station and Pace Terminal Development Dialogue

Through its partnership with the Urban Land Institute, the RTA will support the City of Waukegan and the Waukegan Port District as they seek developer feedback on parcels immediately east of the Waukegan Metra station. Both the City and the Port District have a future vision for their parcels, but feedback from the panelists will assist in finding the best way to develop the area.

How projects are chosen

The RTA held a Call for Projects from February 26 through March 22 in partnership with CMAP. Nineteen municipalities and community organizations submitted 21 applications for assistance. RTA staff reviewed and researched each application, interviewed the applicants, discussed the applications with municipal departments, and solicited feedback on each application from the Service Boards and other partnering agencies in the region. Applications were evaluated based on their alignment with the RTA’s Transit is the Answer strategic plan, which aims to prioritize equity, the feasibility of the proposed project, and the applicant’s ability to partner with the RTA to complete the work.