Public Transportation System Plan Final Report October 2009 Prepared by: Prepared for: The Village of Mount Prospect TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................................1 A. Project Approach......................................................................................................................................1 B. Planning Context......................................................................................................................................1 C. Key Issues................................................................................................................................................2 D. Transportation Plan..................................................................................................................................3 E. STAR Line Station Area Concept .............................................................................................................4 F. Costs and Funding ...................................................................................................................................4 G. Implementation.........................................................................................................................................5 II. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................7 A. Project Initiation........................................................................................................................................7 B. Project Objectives.....................................................................................................................................7 III. COMMUNITY PROFILE.....................................................................................................................8 A. Background ..............................................................................................................................................8 B. Demographic Profile .................................................................................................................................8 C. Land Use Characteristics..........................................................................................................................8 IV. EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES AND BIKEWAYS...........................................................10 A. Metra Services........................................................................................................................................10 B. Pace Services.........................................................................................................................................13 C. Bikeway System .....................................................................................................................................17 V. STAR LINE STATION AREA............................................................................................................19 A. STAR Line Service .................................................................................................................................19 B. Physical Conditions ................................................................................................................................19 C. Land Use................................................................................................................................................21 D. Zoning.....................................................................................................................................................21 E. Overview of Traffic Conditions................................................................................................................24 F. Development Opportunities ....................................................................................................................24 VI. THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PLAN .......................................................................................27 A. Needs Assessment.................................................................................................................................27 B. Pace Service Recommendations ...........................................................................................................31 C. Metra Service Recommendations..........................................................................................................40 D. Bikeway System Recommendations ......................................................................................................40 E. System Connectivity ...............................................................................................................................44 VII. PASSENGER AMENITIES .............................................................................................................47 A. Bus Stops ...............................................................................................................................................47 B. Bus Shelters ...........................................................................................................................................47 C. Pedestrian Linkages ...............................................................................................................................48 D. Bicycle Parking.......................................................................................................................................49 E. Bicycle Rental Programs ........................................................................................................................50 F. Other Bicycle Amenities..........................................................................................................................50 VIII.TRANSPORTATION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION............................................................................51 A. Pace Service Recommendations............................................................................................................51 B. Metra Service Recommendations...........................................................................................................53 C. Institutional Framework...........................................................................................................................53 D. Funding...................................................................................................................................................54 E. Marketing and Outreach .........................................................................................................................54 Mount Prospect Public Transportation System Plan April 2009 Final Report IX. STAR LINE STATION PLAN .......................................................................................................59 A. Station Area Concept .............................................................................................................................59 B. Site Design Elements .............................................................................................................................62 C. Implementation Strategies......................................................................................................................63 D. Financing Strategies...............................................................................................................................65 E. Project Phasing ......................................................................................................................................67 X. IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX ...........................................................................................................70 APPENDIX............................................................................................................................................73 A-1 Public Involvement.................................................................................................................................74 A-2 Community Profile..................................................................................................................................85 A-3 Existing Public Transit Services and Bikeways......................................................................................88 A-4 STAR Line Station Area.........................................................................................................................97 A-5 Public Transportation Improvement Recommendations ......................................................................101 A-6 Transportation Plan Implementation ....................................................................................................118 Mount Prospect Public Transportation System Plan October 2009 Final Report I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. Project Approach The Public Transportation System Plan was initiated under the Regional Transportation Authority’s (RTA) Community Planning Program. The goals of the Community Planning Program are to increase transit usage and multimodal connectivity, improve access and circulation in and around transit facilities, promote pedestrian and transit friendly environments and develop local transit options. In addition to addressing each of these goals, the Plan also includes a station area plan for the Metra Suburban Transit Access Route (STAR) Line