An intergovernmental agreement will be executed with the City’s Department of Planning and Development for an ETOD plan
Today, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) received approval to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) for the transfer of grant funds to be used towards the creation of the 95th Street Corridor Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan (ETOD) – the latest in a series of initiatives complementing Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West community improvement program.
The funds were awarded to CTA from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning. The $800,000 grant is in partnership with DPD, which will provide the $200,000 local match for the $1 million dollar study. DPD, being the City land-use agency, will serve as the lead agency and will manage the project, with support from CTA as needed.
"Equitable, transit-oriented developments have innumerable benefits for our residents and improve the accessibility, walkability, and affordability of our communities," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "I'm grateful to the FTA for this grant award that will advance our city's ETOD priorities and our INVEST South/West revitalization work. I look forward to seeing the 95th Street Corridor's thrive well into the future with this funding."
The 95th Street Corridor is the two-mile stretch between Halsted on the west and Cottage Grove on the east. The project will develop a community supported plan for ETOD implementation along the Corridor to fully leverage the following existing and future major transit investments: CTA 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line Terminal Improvements, CTA Red Line Extension (RLE) from 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th, CTA/Pace South Halsted Bus Corridor Enhancement Project, Pace Pulse 95th Street Line, and the Metra Electric District 95th Street/Chicago State University Station Rehabilitation.
“We are thankful for this grant award from the FTA as it allows us along with the City to move forward with a plan to help improve a community and provide equitable resources for all,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. The ETOD plan will help revitalize a neighborhood and help guide the redevelopment to provide positive opportunities near one of our busiest transit hubs.”
Many community organizations and local stakeholders have contributed to the planning and advocacy for the 95th Street Corridor and the grant application. The inclusion of ideas and feedback from the community is crucial to both CTA and DPD. Throughout the DPD-led planning process, CTA will gain insights from the community and developers on concepts that are both feasible and desirable. DPD will help ensure that the voices of residents and local organizations in the community will be front and center in the study. The community input gained during this process will help to guide the redevelopment along the corridor.
The 95th Street ETOD planning process will also benefit from the recently passed Connected Communities Ordinance, the most comprehensive and equity-focused update to the City’s transit-oriented development policy yet, designed to stimulate equitable development near transit, including high-frequency bus corridors such as 95th street.
Additional partners on the project include Pace, Metra, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Elevated Chicago, Endeleo, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Roseland Heights Community Association, the Chicago Community Trust, Aldermen Beale and Brookins, Chicago State University, the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office, and the Chicago Department of Transportation.
For more information on current and future CTA projects please visit: https://www.transitchicago.com/projects/. And for more information on the City’s ETOD initiative, please visit: http://www.chi.gov/etod.
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