Planning Programs and Projects

This project was completed in December 2010. In spring of 2011, Pace was awarded an FTA grant for $800,000 to install bus shelters and sidewalk connectors along the Randall Road Route #529 study area. All shelters under this grant have been installed at 28 stops along the route, along with necessary sidewalk connectors in certain locations as recommended in the plan.

In late 2013 Pace received CMAQ approval for Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements along various Pace Routes. This project funds concrete pads and sidewalks, implementing recommendations from the Kane County Randall Road Pace Route 529 Plan.

Additionally, Pace was awarded in December 2011 a grant from the RTA's Innovative Coordination & Enhancement (ICE) program for the installation of bus pads along Randall Road as part of this project.

This project kicked off in January 2024 with data collection, development of an existing conditions analysis, and the first meeting with the project Steering Committee. The project team is currently preparing for upcoming community engagement activities to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. 

The Chicago Plan Commission adopted the plan in May 2020 and in June announced the award of Neighborhood Opportunity Funds to two projects that will rehabilitate two vacant storefronts along 79th Street, $52,500 for rehab and build-out for a new co-working space at 1642 E. 79th Street, and $90,000 for renovation and reuse of a vacant building​ for an architecture studio at 2320 E. 79th Street.

In February 2021 Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sisters in Cinema Media Center on East 75th Street at Yates. The Center will house gallery space, a 45-seat theater, editing and computer lab, offices, and classroom and conference space. The Center is scheduled to open in September of 2021.

In the spring of 2021 the City released a two-part RFP for a 1.7-acre site that includes vintage, low-rise buildings and for vacant land adjacent to the Cheltenham station on Metra’s Electric Main Line. The RFP goals include the construction and rehabilitation of transit-oriented housing and ancillary uses. Bids are due August 31, 2021.

The RTA continues to monitor implementation and offer assistance to the City as requested.

Work on the project began in May of 2021 and was completed in April of 2023. CDOT is now working to identify funding sources and a strategy to implement the plan recommendations. The RTA will continue to monitor for implementation activity. The plan can be found under Related Reports.

The draft corridor plan has completed review by the community and the RTA and the City are making final edits to the draft based on comments and feedback.

This project kicked off in late November 2023. The project team is currently developing an existing conditions analysis and hosting a series of community engagement events to gather feedback from transit riders, students, and stakeholders. The project team anticipates completing the existing conditions analysis, market study, and identification of economic development opportunities by the end of July 2024.

This project was initiated in March of 2005 and is now complete. The Niles Village Board approved the Milwaukee Avenue Plan on January 24, 2006.

The Village of Niles continues to implement the BOD Plan recommendations to improve transit-oriented development and increase access to transit. Since 2008, the Village has installed paver crosswalks, decorative fencing, new traffic signal poles with arms, street furniture, sidewalks, pedestrian light poles, and street trees along Milwaukee Avenue. These improvements foster pedestrian and transit environments while spurring community and economic development.

Through the CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was completed, and adopted by the Village in March 2014. This plan identifies steps the Village can pursue to further develop the pedestrian and bicycle networks throughout the Village.

Pace continues to advance Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) along the corridor. Through an RTA Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) project, Pace will test the integration of transit signal priority technology that will allow CTA and Pace buses to interact with multiple types of traffic signal systems located on the same arterial.

Pace received a CMAQ grant in 2014 to fund the following components of Milwaukee Avenue ART from Jefferson Park to Golf Mill: Phase 1 Engineering, stations, real time information, ART vehicles, and queue jump lanes (where appropriate), which are elements of the Pace TSP Planning for the Milwaukee Avenue Arterial Rapid Transit. Pace held public open houses for its Milwaukee Avenue ART service in 2015 to solicit feedback.

Milwaukee Avenue was the first Pace ART line - now titled Pace Pulse - to be implemented. Construction on shelters and other supporting infrastructure began in the summer of 2017 and the line fully launched in August if 2019. For more information visit the Pace website.

The final report was completed in November of 2018 has been shared with Pace and members of the steering committee. Rezoning work is talking place in 2021 and 2022 along the sections of Harlem Ave within Riverside and Berwyn, as recommended in the plan.

This study was completed in June 2017 and Pace staff has begun to determine which of the recommendations to consider first for implementation.

In 2019 the Village of Melrose Park acquired and incorporated into it's jurisdiction the former Maywood Race Track, as recommended in the plan. In April 2019, reports confirmed that the 42-acre site will be developed into a three-building, 623,000-square-foot industrial and retail project, that will be called the Chariot Logistics Center.

In June 2019 the Chicago Plan Commission approved the redevelopment of the former Sears site at Harlem Ave, as recommended by the plan. Development plans include a five-story complex with 161 residential units, a grocery store, health club, and 462 parking spaces. At nearby 7141 W. Wabansia Avenue, a new four-story development with 152 units and 177 parking spaces is also planned.

In 2021 the Village of Melrose Park was awarded $566,000 from Cook County as part of the 2021 Invest in Cook grant program awards. The funds will be used to make roadway improvements at the intersection of IL-64 (North Avenue) and George Street. Correcting the offset intersection will improve safety for motorists and other users while also improving traffic circulation along commercial properties. Construction will involve installation of new traffic signals, relocating a shopping center entrance drive, as well as modifying sidewalks, ADA ramps, and a bike path. The 2017 Pace North Avenue Corridor Plan highlighted this intersection as needing modifications to better serve Pace riders, which this project will accomplish. The City of Northlake was also awarded funding for right-of-way for roadway improvements to Railroad Avenue, a major trucking corridor within the City. This project will bring Railroad Avenue up to modern design standards for safety and efficiency and improve the movement of trucks in the area. Improvements include adding a southbound right turn lane to improve capacity at the intersection of IL 64 (North Avenue) and Railroad Avenue, upgrading pedestrian accommodations to current ADA standards, and providing new signalized pedestrian crossings. The new signalized pedestrian crossing will improve access to the Pace 309 route.

RTA staff will continue to monitor for implementation activity of this study.

The Southwest Conference of Mayors hosted a Developers Summit on September 2013 to discuss the recommendations of the Harlem Avenue Corridor Plan with potential developers.

In late 2013 Pace received CMAQ funding for Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements along and / or adjacent to Pace Routes along the Harlem Avenue Corridor. This project funds concrete pads and sidewalks, implementing recommendations from the Harlem Avenue Corridor study.

Pace advanced construction for the Toyota Park Transit Center with a ground breaking ceremony that took place on November 12, 2013. Meanwhile, new Bus on Shoulder (BoS) service began October 24, 2016 between the Pace Toyota Park Transit Center & Park-n-Ride in Bridgeview and the East Loop and North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Pace Express buses are allowed to ride on the shoulder along I-55 when traffic is congested.

Pace initiated the Tinley Park Call-n-Ride in August 2014. Pace continues to advance transit signal priority and designated route restructuring throughout the corridor. A new Pete's Fresh Market open edin Spring 2015 in Bridgeview, and a mixed-use residential and retail building was constructed in 2015 in Palos Heights. Additionally, the Village of Chicago Ridge has created a TIF District for the Yellow Freight site, which has significant frontage on Harlem Avenue; the Village of Tinley Park is pursuing development of a Master Plan for the Mental Health Center site, near 183rd and Harlem; and a Harlem Avenue Overlay District Rezoning Plan is in the process of being adopted by the Palos Heights City Council.

The Village of Worth, a corridor town, completed a "Planning Priorities Report" through the CMAP LTA Program as well as TOD Plan for the area surrounding the Worth Metra Station through the 2015 RTA Community Planning program.

The City of Palos Heights received Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, via the RTA's Access to Transit Improvement Program, for access to transit capital improvements, as recommended in the Harlem Avenue Corridor Plan. Installation of these improvements were completed in summer of 2016.

In September of 2020 demolition commenced of a long-vacant trucking terminal at 10301 S. Harlem Ave. in Chicago Ridge. The 75-acre property originally owned by Yellow Freight property lies within a 105-acre TIF zone stretching along Harlem, the largest tract of land available for development in the Village.

In 2021 the Village of Worth was awarded Invest in Cook funding for a 0.8-mile long new sidewalk and multi-use path north of the Cal-Sag Channel between Harlem Avenue and Metra’s SouthWest Service Station in Palos Heights. The project will help connect Pace bus routes, retail corridors, recreational facilities, and community destinations as well as tie the Cal-Sag Trail to commuter rail service, which were recommendations of the plan.