RTA funds Phase I engineering for bicycle, pedestrian transit access improvements in four communitie

Press release from the Regional Transportation Authority:

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) announced $195,000 in funding through its Access to Transit program to help four communities in Northeastern Illinois complete Phase I engineering for projects that will improve pedestrian and bicycle access to public transit. Two south suburban projects are in Sauk Village and University Park.

The RTA launched Access to Transit in 2012 to support small-scale capital projects that improve multimodal connections to public transportation. The four projects recently approved by the RTA Board of Directors will receive funding for Phase I engineering, a frequent barrier to securing funding and completing projects.

For the first time in 2020, the RTA added Phase I engineering as an eligible project type for communities of high need based on tax base, median income, and other economic and demographic characteristics. Helping high need communities complete Phase I engineering opens the door for them to access larger state or federal programs for construction funding. Read more.

The south suburban approved projects are:

1. Sauk Village Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements ($50,000): This project includes sidewalk, crosswalk, and other intersection improvements along Sauk Trail and Torrence Ave. to fill sidewalk gaps and make ADA and safety-related improvements at key intersections and along Pace Bus Route 358.

2. University Park Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements ($50,000): This project includes building a side path along University Parkway that will connect the University Park Metra Station to the I-57 Industrial Corridor, creating a multimodal connection between transit and a growing employment center that will make it easier and safe for workers to access jobs via transit.