RTA Partnership with Village of Melrose Park to Improve Access to Transit
The Village of Melrose Park Board of Trustees recently adopted a Broadway Avenue Corridor Plan which includes proposed improvements to the corridor and access to public transportation, thanks in part to funding by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The plan makes recommendations for the area along Broadway Avenue between North and Railroad Avenues, to make it easier for Melrose Park residents to use transit. Funding for the $100,000 plan is made up of $80,000 from the RTA’s Community Planning program and $20,000 from the Village of Melrose Park.
“The RTA is pleased to partner with the Village of Melrose Park in this study that will help improve the pedestrian environment for residents and commuters,” says RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “This project is just one of many RTA Community Planning projects completed this year that will make it easier and more convenient for residents to use public transportation and reduce their dependence on driving.”
Specifically, the Plan recommends improvements in the Village’s primary transit corridor with the goal of creating a transit-friendly environment. Recommendations include the installation of more benches and shelters at Pace bus stops, providing better pedestrian access throughout the corridor with more intersection crossings and mid-block crossings which improve visibility of pedestrians, create better access to parking downtown, and improve access to the areas near the Metra Station. Safety and beautification elements are also recommended throughout the corridor.
“The Broadway Avenue Corridor Plan is the result of a successful collaboration between the Village of Melrose Park and the RTA, without whose assistance this could not have happened,” says Melrose Park Village President Ronald M. Serpico. “Together with the business owners and residents in the Broadway Avenue area, I look forward to finding ways to bring these great ideas to life. Special thanks to Teska Associates for getting everyone involved in the process and helping us identify the needs and solutions that can help revitalize this area.”
The RTA will continue to partner with the Village by providing expertise and assistance as the recommendations in the Plan are implemented. To date, the Community Planning program has completed more than 100 TOD and implementation plans since the late 1990’s using a combination of RTA, local and federal funds, totaling nearly $10 million.
For more information about the RTA’s Community Planning program, visit www.rtachicago.org/cp.
