Webinar recap: RTA's Transit-Friendly Communities Guide helps local municipalities effectively implement ETOD

In January, the RTA published a new Transit-Friendly Communities Guide – a resource with strategies and techniques that local decision-makers, the development community, and residents throughout the region can use to advocate for best practices on infrastructure and development near transit. With a focus on improving equity, accessibility, walkability, and sustainability, the guide offers practical solutions to create vibrant spaces where people can live, work, and play while reducing reliance on cars.

On March 4, the RTA hosted a free webinar to go over key takeaways from the Guide and hold a panel discussion featuring Chicago-area planners who have successfully applied the Guide’s best practices. The webinar came in advance of the next RTA Community Planning and CMAP Technical Assistance Call for Projects, which opens March 10.

RTA Principal Analyst Robert Morris, AICP, kicked off the webinar with an introductory presentation on the Transit-Friendly Communities Guide, highlighting elements such as equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) principles, transit-friendly land use design concepts, strategies for how to effectively and equitably engage your community, zoning policies, infrastructure best practices, and implementation. Morris stated that the Guide is a direct implementation step of RTA's strategic plan, Transit is the Answer.

The discussion portion opened by asking the panelists to share some of their community planning experiences. Noah Schumerth, Assistant Director of Economic and Community Development with the Village of Homewood, said that the Guide’s four core elements of ETOD – density, transit, a mix of land uses, and accessibility – were heavily imbedded in Downtown Homewood’s TOD plan.

Amanda Orenchuk, Community and Economic Development Director from the Village of Mundelein, said the Transit-Friendly Communities Guide was a great tool for outlining engagement when planning for neighborhood transportation efforts. She added that the Village of Mundelein's TOD plan also focused on core ETOD elements, most specifically density. Orenchuk stated that Mundelein board members initially questioned ETOD plans, which led to extensive engagement efforts like educating members of the board and community on the benefits of the plan, inviting feedback and collaboration.

Schumerth agreed by stating it is critical to communicate the vision of any plan and get involvement from public officials and the community.

“You need a proof of concept,” said Orenchuk. She shared that Mundelein has done various equitable engagement efforts like surveys that can translate to other languages, going to multiple events, schools, and park districts, trying different tactics, and always having visuals.

Schumerth explained the importance of being reachable for the community and that implementing a truly inclusive ETOD plan means going out to meet different people instead of expecting them to come to you. “Effective TOD planning is an all-hands-on-deck effort,” said Schumerth. “Community engagement does not stop once a plan is created.”

2025 RTA Community Planning Call for Projects

For communities that want to learn more or get assistance with their planning efforts, the RTA Community Planning program provides funding and technical assistance to local governments to help foster the growth of sustainable, equitable, walkable, and transit-friendly communities. The next joint Call for Projects, held with CMAP’s Technical Assistance program, opens March 10, 2025. Visit www.rtachicago.org/cp for more information.