Planning Programs and Projects

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.

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.

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.

The Villages of Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn seek assistance to complete a study of the 95th Street corridor from Western to Harlem Avenues through the core of the two municipalities. This corridor covers six miles of Pace's future Pulse 95th Line and has also been identified by IDOT for needed pavement improvements. The Villages would like to develop a plan that addresses transportation safety alongside future land use and economic development opportunities that will attract new investment and increase the use of transit. The Villages would also like to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety, particularly at problematic intersections. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

This project funds phase II engineering and construction to remove and replace curb ramps and blended sidewalk areas to comply with ADA standards in 21 locations within the Village. Improvements will consist of removing and replacing sidewalks, curb ramps and curbs, adjusting frames/grates to meet final grade, Hot-mix asphalt pavement patching will be utilized to restore pavement areas. Thermoplastic pavement marking and landscape restoration shall also occur as part of this improvement. Locations selected focus on those areas traveled by residents to access the Metra Bellwood station and Pace bus stops within the Village.

This project funds Phase II engineering and construction of sidewalk network improvements that will provide access from residential neighborhoods south of St. Charles Road to Pace Bus Route 313. Work will be completed for sidewalk gaps along Lee Boulevard, Morris Avenue, Rohde Avenue, Spencer Avenue, and Jerele Boulevard.