The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Access to Transit Program was awarded funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program for seven projects to improve bike and pedestrian access to the regional transit system.
A total of $4.03 million — consisting of roughly $3.2 million in federal funds, $248,000 in local funds and $558,000 in Chicago RTA funds — will be invested in sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters, signage, covered bike parking and other capital improvements at transit stations and along bus routes.
“By creating better connections to transit for pedestrians and bicyclists, these projects advance our goals of relieving congestion, reducing emissions and growing transit ridership,” said Chicago RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “The investments will foster a safe and welcoming environment that benefits all transit riders, regardless of how they access our regional system.”
Access to Transit helps fund small-scale capital projects as identified in communities’ transit-oriented development plans or corridor studies completed through either the Chicago RTA Community Planning program or the CMAP Local Technical Assistance program.
This marks the fourth round of CMAQ funding for Access to Transit, which has secured more than $13 million in federal, local and Chicago RTA funds for 28 projects in communities throughout the region. To date, construction is complete on eight of these projects, with the rest either under construction or in the design phase.
The new projects are:
· Aurora, Kane County (Pedestrian and bicycle access improvements): Aurora Transportation Center improvements including an entrance modification at the intersection of Spring Street to include a new sidewalk, high visibility crosswalk, and way-finding signage. Installation of real-time arrival message boards and warming shelters on the Metra platforms, a formal kiss-n-ride area on the east side of the station, bike shelters and racks on both sides of the station, and a bike lane on Spring Street.
· Blue Island, Cook County (Pedestrian and bicycle access improvements): Constructing a sidewalk and providing pedestrian connection on Irving Avenue, between New Street and Vermont Street, at the Blue Island Metra stations on the Rock Island District Line and the Metra Electric District Line. Provide on-street bike lanes along Irving Avenue and connection to Cal Sag Regional Trail. Reconstruction and reconfiguration of Irving Avenue between New Street and Vermont Street for one-way northbound traffic. Resurfacing and parkway beautification of Irving Avenue between New Street and York Street.
· Calumet Park, Cook County (Pedestrian and bicycle access improvements): Approximately 2,050 linear feet of new and improved sidewalks, two new pedestrian crosswalks, and a covered bike shelter at the Ashland Metra station.
· Midlothian, Cook County (Pedestrian access improvements): Installation of a sidewalk along the northwest side of the Rock Island District right-of-way, between Pulaski Road and the pedestrian bridge in the Metra parking lot just south of 147th Street that crosses Midlothian Creek. Additionally, the bridge across Midlothian Creek will be made ADA accessible, parking spaces at the bridge will be converted to accessible spaces, and a crosswalk is also being considered to connect improvements to residences across Pulaski Road.
· Niles, Cook County (Pedestrian access improvements): Approximately 6,400 linear feet of infill sidewalk sections along Milwaukee Avenue and Golf Road. Pedestrian signal and crosswalk across Milwaukee Avenue at Golf Mill entrance. Improvements support the new Pace Pulse service on Milwaukee Avenue.
· North Chicago, Lake County (Pedestrian access improvements): Improved pedestrian access to Pace services at the intersection of Route 137 and Lewis Avenue. Installation of crosswalks, removal of curbed signal islands and repaving where the curbed islands stand, ADA curb cuts and sidewalk sections, signal modifications including audible countdown, and a new bus shelter and pad.
· Park Forest, Cook County (Pedestrian access improvements): Installation of a sidewalk along the south side of Lincoln Highway / US30 from Orchard Drive, east to the Village limits. Completes a sidewalk gap along Lincoln Highway within the Village to the 211th Street Metra Electric station and provides greater access to Pace bus service.
