Contact Contact

Small-Scale Improvements Equal Big Impacts for Transit Riders

December 5, 2017

Planning2

By Brian Hacker - Senior Planner, Local Planning

planning1

A new crosswalk at Harlem Avenue in Palos Heights provides better access to Pace’s South Harlem route

For many of us, when we hear “transit infrastructure” we think train stations, bus stops, rails and bridges. But there is also a whole supporting system that is just as important, though often overlooked: the facilities that connect riders to these transit services. At the RTA, we realize that all transit riders are pedestrians at some point in their trip, which is why we work with local partners to invest in transit-supportive infrastructure like sidewalks, crosswalks, bike parking and accessibility improvements for riders with disabilities.

Recently, three of our partners completed projects to build transit-supportive infrastructure with help from the RTA’s Access to Transit Improvement Program, which provides funding for small-scale projects identified in transit-oriented plans completed through the RTA’s Community Planning program or CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance program. These three projects, totaling over $2 million, are aimed at increasing transit ridership and improving bike and pedestrian safety. The projects received a majority of the funding from the federal government’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program, with the remainder paid for by the RTA.

planning2

Sidewalks and crosswalks along a two-mile stretch of Golf Road in Rolling Meadows that is served by three Pace bus routes

The Village of Glen Ellyn completed a project to improve access to Pace’s Roosevelt Road route #301 by adding enhancements at three key intersections. Improvements included crosswalk striping, countdown walk signals, accessible sidewalk ramps and new sidewalks that filled in gaps where sidewalks were missing.  Route #301 has some of the highest ridership among all Pace routes and offers connections to such important destinations as the CTA Forest Park Transit Center, the Wheaton Metra station and the Oakbrook Shopping Center

In Palos Heights, they invested in improvements at several locations to improve access to Pace Routes #383 and #386.The project consists of new sidewalks, crosswalk striping and countdown walk signals at several locations in the vicinity of Harlem and Ridgeland Avenues. Pace Routes #383 and #386 serve a number of important destinations, such as Midway Airport, CTA and Metra rail stations, Toyota Park, and several major employers and shopping centers.

The City of Rolling Meadows used their Access to Transit funding to improve pedestrian connectivity along a two-mile stretch of Golf Road, which is home to several major employers and served by three Pace fixed routes: #208, #575 and #606. By installing crosswalks, sidewalks, countdown walk signals, and concrete pads for bus shelters, access between bus stops and office parks on this busy corridor has greatly improved, encouraging more employees to commute by transit.

These projects are the first to be completed out of 22 total projects funded by the Access to Transit Improvement Program. Overall, the program has secured nearly $10 million in federal, local and RTA funds for improvements in communities throughout the region. See the RTA website for a complete list of projects, there may be one coming soon to your neighborhood.

planning3

Crosswalk improvements on Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn benefit riders of Pace’s Roosevelt Road route

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Type your email address here
What emails would you like to receive from the RTA
Tagged in: RTAMS

Related Articles

RTA ADA AWARENESS 2020 1 RTA celebrates 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

This month the RTA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA transformed society and provided opportunities f...

July 29, 2020
Pace Buses 3569195969 1588881889263 Take a survey to help improve mobility options for older adults and people with disabilities

Do you or someone you know face transportation challenges? The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) wants to hear from you about transportation issues and...

May 7, 2020
Transportation Tuesday Event Brite Banner V3 004 Transportation Tuesday Webinar Series: Attend the 2020 RTA Annual Planning Workshop Virtually

The RTA is launching a four-part webinar series in place of the Annual Planning Workshop due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The free, virtual sessions wil...

April 17, 2020
Call Banner 3485388325 1590696008966 Announcing the 2020 Access to Transit Program Call for Projects for Small-Scale Capital Projects

We are excited to announce that the call for projects for the RTA  Access to Transit Program is now open. The RTA launched the Access to Transit program in 2...

March 13, 2020
22 RTA 0646 Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month from the RTA

Each year the RTA celebrates Women’s History Month in March to recognize the women who work at, and ride, CTA, Metra, and Pace every day. The celebration coi...

March 8, 2020
Survey image How's Your Ride? Take This Survey

We’d like to hear your thoughts about public transit!  The RTA is sponsoring a system-wide customer satisfaction survey and would like your feedback about yo...

March 2, 2020
RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
Copyright © 2022 Regional Transportation Authority. All Rights Reserved.