New Community Planning projects support better dial-a-ride coordination in DuPage County, transit-friendly development…

This spring, four new projects kicked 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.

DuPage County Demand Response Transportation Study

The RTA is partnering with the DuPage County Division of Transportation to complete a Demand Response Transportation Study. Demand response transportation is a type of transit service where riders schedule trips ahead of time rather than traveling along a fixed bus or rail route. Service is typically provided within a defined area and is designed to pick riders up closer to where they live and take them directly to their destination or a transit connection point. These programs are often operated by local governments or transit agencies and play an important role in helping people access everyday destinations like medical appointments, grocery stores, jobs, and community services, and are especially critical for older adults and people with disabilities.

This study will provide a practical roadmap for DuPage County to move toward a more integrated and streamlined demand-response transportation system that better serves riders, simplifies operations, and maximizes available resources.

In addition to the various township- and municipality-operated dial-a-ride programs that are the focus of this study, DuPage County is served by 15–18 Pace routes and three Metra lines, offering regional connectivity to Downtown Chicago and other suburban communities throughout the region. However, gaps remain in transportation coverage, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income residents who rely on dial-a-ride and paratransit services for daily needs.

The DuPage County Demand Response Transportation Study will analyze the current dial-a-ride and demand response transportation network and assess the feasibility of developing a more coordinated and efficient countywide system. This study is a first step in identifying opportunities to streamline service delivery, improve mobility access, and reduce administrative complexity across the county’s numerous demand-response transportation programs.

Avondale Blue Line Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan

The RTA is partnering with the Chicago Department of Planning and Development to complete an Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) plan for the half-mile area surrounding the CTA Blue Line’s Belmont Station in the city’s Avondale neighborhood. The Avondale Blue Line ETOD Plan will engage residents to form a new vision for the area that will:

Amplify community voices by including local residents and community-based organizations in the planning process
Identify opportunities to deliver diverse housing types, including multi-family development, that preserves and expands affordability.
Encourage the development of mixed-use buildings at key sites and near transit
Improve walkability and multi-modal connectivity to existing transit services to increase the use of transit.
Support and grow investment near transit that will not displace current residents or businesses, but increase vitality of the community, strengthen existing businesses, create jobs, and generate generational wealth within the community.

Avondale is a culturally diverse and evolving community, with a population that is majority Hispanic and includes long-standing Polish, Eastern European, Asian, and Filipino communities. The area features a mix of land uses, including single- and multi-family residential housing, active established and emerging commercial corridors, and light industrial buildings. The study area has a multitude of transit options including the CTA Blue Line and several high-capacity bus routes including the 82 Kimball, 77 Belmont, and 56 Milwaukee.

Oak Forest Metra Station Sub Area Plan

The RTA is partnering with the City of Oak Forest to complete a Metra Station Sub Area Plan, building on the City’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan and offering a refreshed vision for the type of development and transportation infrastructure desired in the study area served by Metra’s Rock Island line and Pace Routes 354, 364, and 383. The plan aims to identify gaps in existing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that make it difficult for people to access the Metra station; recommend cost-effective changes to street design that will make traveling safer for all road users; identify potential redevelopment opportunities for city-owned vacant land that are driven by thoughts and ideas of local residents; explore potential redevelopment of underutilized Metra parking lots including transit-oriented development (TOD); and develop zoning code updates to promote walkability.

Harvard Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan

The RTA is partnering with the City of Harvard to complete an equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) plan for the Harvard Metra station area, served by the Union Pacific Northwest Line and Pace Route 808. The plan and implementation guide created will assist the City of Harvard with attracting investment and implementing the resident-defined vision for the community. Recommendations will encompass topics such as zoning and land use, particularly related to mixed-use development; connectivity and accessibility; a public, community-focused open space such as a promenade; housing opportunities including for sale and rental options that address demand for housing types or price points not currently available in the community; entrepreneurial strategies and support of existing businesses; local employment strategies; public art and beautification driven by local residents and artists; and attracting visitors from nearby communities or those along the Metra line.

Learn more about the RTA’s Community Planning program.