Regional Transportation Authority

Community Planning projects are designed to address local conditions and meet varying community goals and objectives, including integrating the transit facilities into the fabric of the community and providing increased mobility options. Typical projects include the following:

• Transit-Oriented Development Plans
• Local Transit Improvement Plans 
• Integrated Transportation and Land Use Plans
  
  

Transit-Oriented Development Plans

Transit-oriented development (TOD) plans are based on the basic tenets of transit-oriented development, mixed land uses, higher residential densities and pedestrian-friendly environments. These plans produce recommendations for an appropriate mix of land uses and transportation improvements within a ¼ to ½ mile radius of a rail or major bus station or along a major bus corridor that support increased transit ridership. They also address urban design elements, including streetscape improvements, and recommend multi-modal mobility improvements to and within the station area.

These plans are used by communities to guide and manage development and redevelopment within the station area while integrating the transit facilities and mobility improvements into their land use plans. These plans are realistic, based on current and future market conditions, community preferences and feedback from the development sector. Individual communities are encouraged to set specific goals in relation to the planning process and outcomes. The RTA strives to achieve three main goals through the planning process:

1. Provide community residents and officials with an awareness of the benefits of supporting compact, walkable, higher density mixed use development within the vicinity of their transit station.
2. Develop a transit-oriented development plan/guide for the community and private developers to follow while planning, designing and implementing new land use or transportation projects in the station area so that the final build-out is cohesive.
3. Develop and foster partnerships and relationships among service boards, community officials, regional agencies, private developers, residents and business owners that will assist in streamlining the implementation of the final plan.

More information on transit-oriented development .

Typical tasks to complete a transit-oriented development plan may include the following:

• Existing Conditions Analysis
• Residential, office, and retail market analyses
• Public participation
• Developer Outreach
• Development of concept plans
• Multi-modal circulation and access plans
• Design guidelines
• Sustainable development strategies / LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND)
• Implementation strategies

For communities that do not currently have a transit station, but are interested in planning development and redevelopment in a manner that supports future transit service, the creation of Transit-Oriented Development Guidelines may be more appropriate than the creation of a detailed Station Area Plan. Public participation is an important component, focusing on introducing and discussing the concept of transit-oriented development to community members and elected officials.  Improvements for multi-modal access to and within the potential station area also are identified.  The TOD Guidelines discuss appropriate land preservation for a potential future transit station and the associated transit assets. The TOD Guidelines will present visual examples of development densities and design standards that are most appropriate for the community and address pedestrian-friendly streetscaping.  While TOD Guidelines are eligible through the Community Planning program, the RTA has placed an emphasis on funding TOD studies for existing station areas.  If you are considering submitting an application for TOD Guidelines, please contact the RTA in advance to discuss the project.  Additionally, the RTA is currently in the process of creating a “Setting the Stage For Transit” guide that will address all the elements discussed above.  This guide will be complete by the end of 2011 and will be made available to all units of local government and posted on our website.

Local transit improvement plans create recommendations for locally based transit opportunities such as developing new transit service, increasing or improving existing transit service, or identifying options to enhance mobility within a select community. These projects, based on a community's needs, typically fall into one of two categories: service improvement plans or access and infrastructure improvement plans.

Service improvement plans investigate the feasibility of small- scale localized transit service. If service is warranted based on the results of a market analysis, travel patterns and demographics are analyzed and combined with local service preferences to develop service recommendations. Potential recommendations may include the establishment of community circulators, rerouting of an existing bus line, or the introduction of reverse commute shuttle buses from an existing rail station or transit center. Service is typically designed to benefit residents, employees, and possibly tourists/shoppers. Often times, smaller scale shuttle buses and vans are utilized creating an aesthetically pleasing experience. Implementation of service can be accomplished through a variety of options, such as in-house operation, in which the community is responsible for both the capital and operating aspects of the service, contracting with a private transit company for capital and operating needs, or partnering with Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the RTA. Pace offers a variety of local community service options, which can be appropriate for the recommended service that results from the plan.

Access and infrastructure improvement plans identify ways to improve access to existing or proposed bus routes and facilities, and identify opportunities to enhance transit related infrastructure. Possible improvements investigated include amenities such as bus shelters, bus pads, or multi-modal transit centers. Additionally, these studies examine roadway improvements such as transit signal priority devices, pedestrian signal crosswalk improvements and the installation of HAWK (High-intensity Activated Crosswalk) devices. These studies also typically include land use, zoning and development components (stressing higher density) to increase pedestrian-oriented development and spur economic development within the community.

Both types of plans offer effective benefits to local communities as well as the RTA transit system. The following benefits positively impact residents and transit users alike:

• Efficient, viable and pleasant transit experiences.
• Barrier–free access and circulation patterns.
• Attractive transit and pedestrian amenities.
• Increase multi-modal transitand pedestrian activity, which in turn, reduces traffic congestion.
• Vibrant street life anchored by the activity/transit facilities within the community.
• An increased commitment for transit facility upkeep.
  

Additionally, the following goals are used to prepare community specific actionable frameworks for implementation for both types of plans:

1. Provide a forum in which communities can be educated about and investigate possible local transit improvements and opportunities.
2. Assist local communities in determining and planning for appropriate infrastructure and access improvements or transit service, thus allowing potential providers to focus on service implementation.
3. Provide an objective, systematic planning process for the communities, enabling them to produce quality plans, and prepare and pursue recommended infrastructure and access improvements or new transit service.
4. Identify community driven priorities, and prepare a plan in which residents, employers and/or employees will benefit from and take ownership of the implementation.
5. Develop and foster partnerships and relationships among the appropriate RTA staff, transit agencies, community officials, regional agencies, and residents that will streamline the implementation process.
6. Determine next steps that can be addressed through Implementation strategy.

Typical tasks to complete a local transit improvement plan may include the following:

1. Data collection / analysis of existing conditions
2. Market feasibility (for transit service projects)
3. A needs assessment
4. Public participation
5. Development of recommendations and concept plans
6. Implementation strategies

Pace Community Transit Programs 

Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the RTA, offers local governments the opportunity to partner with the bus agency to provide locally based transit service. Through three Community Transit Programs, the Municipal Vanpool, the Locally Based Program, and the Call and Ride Program, local communities can design and implement a customized service that fits their specific transit needs.

Pace works with each community on an individual basis to design the service and provides the vehicles. Each individual community contracts with Pace for the vehicles, and is responsible for setting the route, days and hours of operation and service fees.

The following summary details each program:

Municipal Vanpool Program 

• Available to local units of governments
• The monthly fee is $100 plus the cost of fuel, with Pace responsible for maintenance and repairs
• Minivans, conversion vans, and maxi vans are used, new vehicles are dispersed, if available. The vans used for this program are not easily assessable for seniors

Locally Based Program 

• Mostly townships are utilizing this service; but available to all local units of governments
• Cost is $100 a month plus fuel. Maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the community
• American Crusaders Champion vehicle is used, with a capacity of 10-12 riders. This type of van provides easier access for seniors

Call and Ride Program 

• Cost is $100 a month plus fuel. Maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the community
• American Crusaders Champion vehicle is used, with a capacity of 10-12 riders. This type of van provides easier access for seniors
• Demand responsive service, bus driver (operator) takes reservations one hour in advance and picks up riders, thus eliminating the need for a dispatcher

These Plans will support the application of transit-supportive land use outside of traditional transit-oriented development locations to foster the principles of livability.  Therefore, emphasis will be on the provision of increased transportation choices, support for existing communities, promotion of equitable and affordable housing, enhancement of economic competitiveness, and coordination of policies and investments.  CMAP encourages applicants to review GO TO 2040, the region’s comprehensive plan that integrates land use and transportation, for recommendations that address the above principles.

A typical scope of work for projects that may be eligible for funding under this category may include:

• Desired outcomes of project, e.g. reductions in auto trips, increased walkability, redevelopment with increased multi-modal transportation focus, etc.
• Needs assessment
• Public participation components
• Plans, guidelines or strategy development that supports the integration of land use with the transportation network
• Implementation strategies including economic analyses, market studies or coordinated investment

All proposals must have a strong transportation component.  Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with other local jurisdictions and agencies to promote regional connectivity goals.  The following are examples of projects that may be eligible for funding under the above category:

• Location-efficient planning studies that promote higher densities and/or redevelopment adjacent to transit
• Planning for affordable housing near transit
• Adoption or incorporation of Smart Code or form-based codes in municipal land use regulation that include planning for walking, bicycling and/or transit
• Pricing for parking studies
• Development of housing strategies that connect to transit facilities, analysis of existing regulations and land use plan for connectivity to transit
• Pedestrian gap analysis/Sidewalk connectivity studies
• Streetscape enhancements studies
• Studies for innovative funding for transportation-related improvements
• Corridor studies, specifically ones that address freight and other multi-modal components.

Additionally, applicants are encouraged to incorporate tree planting, the installation of green infrastructure for stormwater management in street facilities and efficient street lighting within proposed corridor studies.