Explore 2024 RTA Local Planning projects and successes in interactive implementation report

Every year, the RTA’s Local Planning department assists local governments throughout northeastern Illinois on projects that strengthen the region’s transit system through two programs: Community Planning and Access to Transit. These programs provide funding and technical assistance for local governments to plan for and create pedestrian friendly, multi-modal, equitable, and accessible communities.

The RTA recently published its 2024 Local Planning Implementation Story Map, an interactive report of 24 RTA-supported projects around the region that are starting soon, in progress, or recently completed.

The report includes details on two Access to Transit projects that were completed in 2024. In June, the Village of Northbrook completed construction of covered bicycle parking and installation of wayfinding signage at the Northbrook Metra station. In July, the City of Aurora completed its planned improvements to the Aurora Transportation Center, including construction of new sidewalk and crosswalks, the installation of real-time arrival/departure signage for Metra trains, the construction of heated transit shelters, the improvement of bike lanes that access the station, and the installation of bicycle parking, among other projects.

Six Community Planning projects that were completed in 2024 are also highlighted in the report. One such project is the Homewood Downtown TOD Plan. The RTA assisted the Village of Homewood to prepare a transit-oriented development plan for downtown Homewood and areas surrounding the Homewood Metra and Amtrak station. Leveraging the recently completed station renovations, the goals of the planning study included identifying strategies to attract investment and development, retaining existing character/historic preservation, and increasing access to transit services in the downtown. The plan also presents strategies and projects to foster Downtown population growth, identify new uses for vacant buildings, increase transit ridership, and increase the number of people visiting and spending time in Downtown Homewood. The Plan was awarded with the  Healthy and Active Community Award  at the 2024 American Planning Association - Illinois State Conference. Other projects listed in the report include Development Dialogues in Waukegan and Round Lake, a curbside management study for the Kimball CTA Brown Line station in Chicago, and transit-oriented development (TOD) plans in La Grange and Richton Park.

The report lists 10 other examples of communities throughout the region that successfully implemented recommendations from previously completed plans that received funding and technical assistance from the RTA’s Community Planning program. As detailed in the report, these communities’ efforts have not only improved transit effectiveness in the region through access improvements but have also provided a variety of mobility options for residents, increased opportunities for residents to use low carbon transportation modes, and expanded the variety of residential and commercial options for communities.

Overall, the projects included in the implementation report show progress toward the goals of Transit is the Answer, the RTA’s regional transit strategic plan adopted in 2023, and the principle of “Commitment to Change.” Moving forward, the RTA will continue to assist communities throughout the region to tackle immediate and emerging planning issues related to transit.

Read more in the 2024 Implementation Report.