Draft RLE Transit-Supportive Development Plan Published for Public Comment
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development released the Draft Red Line Extension (RLE) Transit-Supportive Development (TSD) Plan for public comment. The Draft TSD Plan is a proactive effort to create a guide for future development in the long-disinvested communities located near the RLE project area. The plan is the culmination of significant community engagement, agency coordination, and technical analysis.
The Draft TSD Plan was presented to the City of Chicago Plan Commission on February 16, 2023 and was available for public comment from February 13 to March 14, 2023. The CTA and DPD will review public comments and make adjustments if needed to the Draft RLE TSD Plan. A Final RLE TSD Plan will be introduced to the Plan Commission for adoption after the public comment period concludes. All comments will be addressed before the final plan is published following the Plan Commission meeting.
Click here to view the draft plan.
Transit-Supportive Development Plan Overview
The Red Line Extension is about much more than providing new access to transit – it’s also about promoting opportunity and development for communities and residents along the extension.
The RLE Transit-Supportive Development (TSD) Plan is a proactive effort to create a guide for future development in communities located near the RLE project area. The TSD Plan is being led by the CTA and in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. Funding for this initiative comes from a grant the CTA received from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning. This program provides funding to FTA grantees to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new transit capital investment.
At the heart of the TSD Plan is the community’s vision for future development along the RLE corridor. This Plan identifies methods and resources needed to enable mixed-use development and enhance economic vitality, multimodal connectivity and the pedestrian environment.
Importantly, the TSD Plan utilizes an equitable Transit Oriented Development (eTOD) planning approach. In short, eTOD planning seeks to promote development without the displacement of existing residents and achieve community-focused benefits, such as affordable housing, local economic development and environmental sustainability. It can be a driver for more vibrant, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods that put people of color and lower- and moderate-income residents at the center. In order to achieve this, a vital part of this plan was a community engagement and ownership process that incorporates and appreciates the vision of residents and stakeholders from the surrounding neighborhoods throughout the development of the plan.
Information collected during the TSD Plan helps the CTA secure funding for the RLE project through the federal New Starts program. More specifically, the plan will be used to provide information on future plans for the use of land and economic development criteria following the completion of project work to extend the Red Line.
What does Transit-Supportive Development Plan entail?
The TSD Plan includes the following components: an Existing Conditions and Inventory Analysis, Land Use and Zoning Analysis, Market Analysis, Preliminary Planning Concepts, an Economic Development Analysis, Plan Recommendations, and a Final Report.
Transit-Supportive Development Plan Frequently Asked Questions
For frequently asked questions about the TSD plan and RLE, visit our FAQ page here.
Community Involvement
The CTA involved local communities, elected officials and regional stakeholders to share information on the project and gather feedback and input for the plan.
In-Person Office Hours - Winter 2021
The CTA hosted in-person office hours following the final TSD virtual community meetings to provide community members the opportunity to meet with project staff, ask questions, and have engaging discussions about the RLE project and the TSD Plan.
- Thursday, December 9th
- 103rd Street Station (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Location: Victory City Campus (10116 S. Normal Ave, Chicago, IL)
- Michigan Avenue Station (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
Location: New Christian Joy MB Church (11594 S. State St, Chicago, IL)
- Friday, December 10th
- 111th Street Station (10:00 AM -12:00 PM)
Location: Agape Community Center (342 W 111th St, Chicago, IL)
- 130th Street Station (1:30 PM – 3:30 PM)
Location: Altgeld Public Library (955 E 131st St, Chicago, IL)
Meeting 3: Transit-Supportive Development Plan - Winter 2021
The CTA hosted two virtual meetings to get feedback on the proposed strategies and concepts for Transit-Supportive Development near each of the four proposed RLE station areas. The input of the community will help determine the preferred, future development of the station areas.
-
Tuesday, December 7th (6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
103rd Street & Michigan Avenue station areas
-
Wednesday, December 8th (6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
111th Street & 130th Street station areas
Meeting resources
Meeting 2: Vision Statements and Types of Development - Spring 2021
The CTA hosted two identical virtual meetings to get feedback on the draft vision statements developed with guidance from the community for the areas around the new stations. The project team shared what we learned from the community at the four station area meetings earlier this year and community members provided their feedback. The meetings also included a planning exercise to brainstorm different types of potential future development near each station.
Meeting resources
RLE Virtual Station Meetings
The CTA hosted a series of virtual public meetings to discuss project progress and YOUR VISION for the
area around the four proposed stations for the RLE project. Your input as a community
member will help determine the needs and priorities for future development around each station area.
Meeting resources
Meeting 1: Goals, Objectives, and Vision - Winter 2020
The CTA hosted virtual community meetings on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, and Wednesday, December 9, 2020 for updates on the RLE project and an introduction to the new TSD plan. Community members were able to participate in polling activities, provide comments, and ask questions.
RLE community engagement website
The CTA used a RLE community engagement website for the TSD Plan where community members provided feedback, asked questions, and collaborated with others. A variety of interactive and easy to use activities were provided, such as an ideas wall, a mapping tool, and a short survey.
December 2020 meeting resources
Who led the Transit-Supportive Development Plan effort?
The CTA led this effort in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. Solomon Cordwell Buenz was selected as the prime consultant for the TSD Plan. The TSD consultant team included six disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), comprising 40.11% of the overall contract value.
To receive updates on the Red Line Extension Project, please contact us at:
RedExtension@transitchicago.com
Chicago Transit Authority
Strategic Planning & Policy, 10th Floor
Attn: Red Line Extension Project
567 W. Lake Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-1465