The Transit-Friendly Communities Guide is your roadmap to creating equitable neighborhoods across the Chicago region that are safe and accessible to transit. This comprehensive resource, published by the RTA in January 2025, provides local decision-makers, developers, and community advocates with strategies and tools to design thriving communities centered around transit.
The RTA developed this guide as an actionable resource to support transit-friendly design and equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD). With a focus on improving 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. This guide is a direct implementation step of the RTA's strategic plan, Transit is the Answer.
The Transit-Friendly Communities Guide is full of tools to make transit more accessible to more people throughout the region and support residential and commercial development near transit. Across various topics, the Guidebook includes 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.
Transit-Friendly Design Concepts: Explore strategies for integrating transit access, walkability, and bike-friendly infrastructure into your community.
Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD): Learn how ETOD principles ensure access to transit and amenities for people of all incomes and abilities.
Land Use & Market Trends: Understand how changing demographics and consumer preferences drive opportunities for transit-friendly development.
Case Studies & Best Practices: Dive into real-world examples of transit-friendly projects from across the region and beyond.
Find out how to apply for support and learn more about the guide
📅 Mark your calendar! The next call for Community Planning projects opens March 10, 2025. Visit www.rtachicago.org/cp for more information when the call opens.
The RTA will host a webinar on the Transit-Friendly Communities Guide on March 4, 2025. Register here.
Join RTA Chicago for a webinar designed for municipal planners, elected officials, planning agency staff, local government board members, and the public.
Date and time
Tuesday, March 4th noon-1 p.m. Central time (virtual)
What
The session will feature a presentation of the RTA’s new Transit-Friendly Communities Guide, which provides a range of tools to make transit more accessible to more people throughout the region and support residential and commercial development near transit. A panel discussion will follow featuring Chicago-area planners who have successfully applied the Guide’s best practices to foster equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) in their communities.
Attendees will learn how to use the Guide to create transit-friendly communities, including design concepts, access infrastructure, transportation and land use policies and strategies for equitably engaging community members. There will be an opportunity for audience questions during the panel discussion.
Speakers
Moderator
Robert Morris, AICP Principal Analyst, RTA Chicago (he/him)
Robert is a Principal Analyst in the RTA’s Local Planning and Program Management Division. In his role with the RTA, Robert manages projects in several RTA programs including the Community Planning, Access to Transit, and Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities) programs. Robert works with communities across the Chicagoland region to create local plans, update zoning codes, study transit corridors, and implement transit access infrastructure improvements. Before joining the RTA, Robert worked in municipal planning in Ohio with stops at the City of Columbus and Marion County Regional Planning Commission. Robert enjoys exploring and eating his way through new cities, often on a bike, bus, or train.
Panelists
Amanda Orenchuk, AICP, Director of Community Development, Village of Mundelein (she/her)
Amanda is an experienced Community Development Director with a demonstrated history of working with government administration. In her role as Community Development Director at the Village of Mundelein, Amanda is responsible for creating opportunities for job growth by identifying industrial and flex spaces; for laying foundations to attract new businesses and development; for administering TIF; for reporting on the Comprehensive Plan; for amending the Zoning Ordinance; and for improving the public space and built environment.
Noah Schumerth, AICP, Assistant Director of Economic and Community Development, Village of Homewood (he/him)
Noah has an extensive background in municipal planning, and has participated on numerous award-winning planning project teams, including the Village of Homewood Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan (APA-IL Vibrant and Healthy Communities Award, 2024), the Town of Gilbert, Arizona Mixed-Use Zoning Ordinance (APA-AZ Planning Policy/Ordinance of the Year, 2023), and the Peoria, Arizona Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment (APA-AZ Best Student Project, 2022). Noah has a passion for transit-oriented development and sustainable transportation planning, and has a background studying sustainable transportation development at Arizona State University and the University of Groningen.
