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. Since 1998, we have completed more than 200 projects. Learn more about Community Planning projects in the 2024 Local Planning Annual Report.
Since 1998, the RTA’s Community Planning program has provided funding and technical assistance with transit-oriented planning and implementation initiatives with local partners throughout the six-county service area. The goal 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 and amenities to serve the constantly evolving needs of our diverse population.
Eligible assistance types for the 2025 program include equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) plans, transit corridor plans, eTOD zoning code updates, eTOD development dialogues, transit neighborhood access to transit improvement plans, plans to develop special funding districts in transit areas, and curb management studies.
The nine selected projects that will begin in 2025 are described below.
Applicant | Project Type | Project Description |
Aurora | Bus Service Improvements | The RTA will support the City of Aurora's efforts to explore the feasibility of expanding bus services along key routes and to key destinations within the City. This initiative seeks to bolster ridership without placing additional financial strain on the existing regional system, while working towards the City's primary goal to reduce the number of individuals traveling alone to key destinations on a daily basis. |
Chicago – Department of Transportation | Neighborhood Access to Transit Plan | The City of Chicago Department of Transportation will prepare a Neighborhood Access to Transit plan for three stations on the Blue Line - Forest Park branch. The line serves several diverse communities within the Eisenhower Expressway corridor, including communities with many residents who solely rely on transit for daily mobility. However, several barriers hinder station accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities. The City will identify mobility improvements such as sidewalk and curb cut needs, pedestrian crossings, wayfinding and signage, and improvements that better facilitate bus-to-rail transfers. |
Chicago Department of Planning and Development | eTOD Plan | The City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development will develop an equitable TOD plan for the areas surrounding the Belmont Blue Line station in the Avondale community area. The goals of the plan are centered on identifying future development that aligns with the City's desire to bring residential developments to areas which need affordable housing and access to transit. The study area is served with 24/7 rail access along with high-frequency bus routes, creating the opportunity increase densities to support affordable housing and supporting commercial uses. |
DuPage County | Dial-A-Ride Consolidation Study | DuPage County's Department of Transportation will convene a variety of County agencies and transportation partners to conduct a planning study on ways to further coordinate or consolidate dial-a-ride services in the County. The planning process will include a review of models for consolidated dial-a-ride service, interviews with current transportation sponsors, determining possible funding and coordination models, evaluating service parameters, and developing potential costs and funding sources for a countywide coordinated dial-a-ride service. |
Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn | Transit Corridor Study | The Villages of Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn will study the 95th Street corridor from Western to Harlem Avenues through the core of the two Villages. This corridor covers six miles of Pace's future Pulse 95th Line. The plan will address transportation safety alongside future land use and economic development opportunities that will attract new investment and increase the use of transit. |
Fox Lake | TOD Zoning Code Updates | The Village of Fox Lake will update the municipal zoning code in the downtown area, generally along portions of West and East Grand Avenue, and Nippersink Road from the lakefront to Grand Avenue, including the Metra station area. Goals of the revised code are to better connect downtown to the lakefront, create a more appealing downtown for residents, reduce commercial vacancy rates and redevelop underutilized and vacant sites to bring more housing and walkability to the area. |
Harvard | eTOD Plan | The City of Harvard will develop an equitable TOD Plan for the downtown area north and east of the Harvard Metra station, and for the Ayer Street corridor to the south and west of the station. The City envisions a stronger core downtown for Harvard, one that will spur residential and commercial growth that is centered on transit and improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the Metra station. |
Joliet | TOD Zoning Code Update | The City of Joliet will update the municipal zoning code in areas surrounding the Gateway Transportation Center in downtown Joliet in an effort to allow the types and styles of development envisioned in the soon to be completed Joliet Equitable Transit-Oriented Development plan. The existing zoning code restricts multi-family housing in portions of the study without a special use permit, and it also perpetuates incompatible low-density housing with sub-optimal dimensional and design standards. |
Oak Forest | eTOD Plan | The City of Oak Forest will complete a study of the core Metra station area bounded by 160th Street, Laramie Avenue, 156th Street, and Cicero Avenue. The City's goal is to address safety challenges related to accessibility for people walking and biking while setting a new direction for future investment and development that will bring in new jobs, all centered on the City's transit assets. |
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