Corridor study, eTOD plans: Community Planning projects kick off throughout the region

This summer, three new projects are kicking off that will make communities throughout the Chicago region more equitable, accessible, and transit-friendly, thanks to support from the RTA Community Planning program. This program provides funding and technical assistance to local governments to help foster growth of sustainable, equitable, walkable, and transit-friendly communities. Since 1998, more than 200 projects have been completed.

Dempster Street Corridor Study in Morton Grove

The Village of Morton Grove in the northwest suburbs is partnering with RTA on a corridor study of a roughly 3-mile segment of Dempster Street that generally follows Pace’s Pulse Dempster Line and Route 250. The study area extends from Ozark Avenue on the west to Central Avenue on the east, extending a quarter-mile on either side of the corridor and including connections to the Morton Grove Metra station, which is undergoing a $3.7 million reconstruction.

The study aims to

Improve pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access
Enhance safety for all users
Identify transit-supportive development opportunities
Examine opportunities to decrease transit vehicle travel times
Develop recommendations to enhance connectivity between the Metra station and the transit services on Dempster Street

Village officials have also expressed concerns about vacant properties, building conditions, and challenges in attracting new businesses because of limited parking availability, shallow lot depths, and other barriers to redevelopment. This corridor plan will offer recommendations to improve access and attract new development.

The planning process began in April 2025 and is expected to wrap up in October 2026.

Lockport eTOD Plan

The southwest suburban City of Lockport is partnering with the RTA to complete an equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) plan for the downtown area, covering the Metra station served by the Heritage Corridor Line, and Pace Routes 832 and 834.

Equity-focused elements of the plan will include

Intentional outreach to residents across socioeconomic and racial backgrounds to ensure broad community input
Engagement stipends to compensate residents for their time
Planning to prevent potential future displacement
Centering resident voices in the planning process

This ETOD plan will elevate and prioritize investments and policies that close socioeconomic gaps between neighborhoods through a process that elevates residents’ ability to guide decision making. The plan and implementation guide created will assist the City of Lockport with attracting investment and implementing the resident-defined vision for the community.

The final plan will include

Land use strategies to attract residential and mixed-use development
Pedestrian, bike, and transit safety and access improvements
Streetscape enhancements to improve the look and feel of streets
Opportunities for adaptive reuse of underused industrial land
A detailed implementation guide to attract investment and support community priorities

Input will be gathered from the community with at least four public engagement opportunities, including tabling at community events that residents are already accustomed to attending, interviewing community stakeholders, hosting focus groups, and distributing physical and digital surveys.

The planning process began in June 2025 and is expected to wrap up at the end of 2026.

Hazel Crest eTOD Plan

South suburban Hazel Crest is partnering with the RTA to complete an equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) plan for the downtown area near the Hazel Crest Metra station, and the emerging Hazel Crest Creative Arts District.

Equity-focused elements of the plan will include

Employing a racial equity lens in engagement activities by intentionally seeking input from those historically left out of planning processes
Providing compensation for community members participating in engagement
Developing strategies to provide diverse, affordable, attainable housing
Planning in a way that avoids potential future displacement and prioritizes the needs of current residents.

Input will be gathered from the community with at least three public engagement opportunities, including tabling at community events that residents are already accustomed to attending, interviewing community stakeholders, hosting focus groups, distributing physical and digital surveys, creating and maintaining a project website or promotional mailers, and recruiting and training residents who can further support engagement through grassroots efforts.

The final plan will include recommendations on

Zoning and land use
Pedestrian, bike, and transit-friendly street design
Affordable housing opportunities for both renters and owners
Strategies to support for local businesses and entrepreneurs
Public art, beautification, and local employment strategies

The planning process is slated to begin in July 2025 and is expected to wrap up in October 2026.

Learn more about the RTA’s Community Planning program.