The Community Planning program provides funding and planning assistance to communities at the local level for planning projects that benefit both the local communities and the RTA transit system. Launched in 1999 under the name Regional Technical Assistance Program (RTAP), the program was renamed and launched as Community Planning in 2008 to better reflect the program’s focus on planning assistance for local communities.
Community Planning offers units of local government such as municipalities, townships, and local planning agencies an opportunity to participate in the planning of local transit and transit related opportunities. Services offered include the creation of station area / transit-oriented development plans, transit-oriented development guidelines, local transit improvement plans for bus and rail, and coordinated paratransit plans.
Through this program, the RTA seeks projects that are consistent with the four primary goals of its strategic plan: provide transportation options, ensure financial viability, enhance livability and economic vitality, and demonstrate value. Additionally, the program looks to fund projects that incorporate the following Community Planning principles:
- Plan for increased transit usage
- Plan for access and circulation improvements in and around transit facilities
- Plan for multi-modal improvements
- Develop transit-oriented development plans or principles
- Plan for improved job access
- Plan for improved mobility for seniors and people with disabilities
- Plan for improved efficiency and effectiveness of transit operations through increased coordination and reduced redundancy
- Plan for enhanced or expanded transit service
Since Community Planning funds are to be used for planning purposes only, capital, engineering, operating, and staff/equipment costs are not eligible.
Selected projects are expected to commence within six months of acceptance notification. Funding for projects comes from a variety of sources, including the RTA, state, and federal grants. A local matching cash share of 20% is required, but exemptions can be granted due to extreme financial hardship.
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Program Timeline
June 2008
Community Planning Program
2009 Call for Projects
July 10, 2008
RTA Programs Open House
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
University Center- Loop/River Room
525 South State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
August 8, 2008
Community Planning applications due to the RTA
September 15, 2008
Proposed Program of Projects presented to the RTA Board
October 23, 2008
Proposed Program of Projects
presented to the RTA Board for approval
December 18, 2008
Funding for the 2009 Program of Projects presented to the RTA Board for approval
January 2009
Budget Approval letters
sent to applicants
March - June 2009
2009 Community Planning
projects initiated
RTAMS
For additional information on RTA planning initiatives, please visit
the Regional Transportation Asset Management System (RTAMS). The RTAMS
is a transportation information retrieval system which has been
developed by the RTA. The system’s goal is to improve access to the
region's enormous transportation data resources being gathered by the
RTA, its service boards and other regional transportation and planning
agencies.
The RTAMS
contains an inventory of RTA-sponsored planning programs and projects. The RTAMS allows users to download completed studies and to view progress on ongoing efforts. http://rtams.org
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