DRAFT Des Plaines Station Feasibility Study Final Report City of Des Plaines September 9, 2019 Des Plaines Station Feasibilty Study DRAFT Prepared for: City of Des Plaines Prepared by: AECOM 303 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 aecom.com In association with: The Lakota Group Prepared for: City of Des Plaines AECOM Draft Final Report Des Plaines Station Feasibilty Study DRAFT Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Technical Summary ................................................................................................................ 9 1.2 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 11 2. Station Spacing and Site Selection ........................................................................ 12 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Station Spacing Issues ......................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Commuter Rail Station Spacing Practice & Guidelines ....................................................... 16 2.4 Metra Practice ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Initial Station Screening ....................................................................................................... 20 2.6 Station Spacing Conclusions Applied to Des Plaines .......................................................... 31 3. Existing Conditions .................................................................................................. 33 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 33 3.2 Background and Station Purpose ........................................................................................ 33 3.3 Regional Setting ................................................................................................................... 34 3.4 Selected Site ........................................................................................................................ 35 3.5 Station Elements .................................................................................................................. 36 3.6 Definition of Station Market Sheds ....................................................................................... 37 3.6.1 Rider Origin Market .............................................................................................................. 37 3.6.1.1 Socioeconomic .................................................................................................... 40 3.6.1.2 Land Use ............................................................................................................. 44 3.6.2 Rider Destination Market ...................................................................................................... 46 3.7 Station Area Characteristics ................................................................................................. 49 3.7.1 Land Use .............................................................................................................................. 51 3.7.2 Zoning .................................................................................................................................. 53 3.7.3 Infrastructure and Utilities ..................................................................................................... 55 3.7.4 Local Points of Interest ......................................................................................................... 55 3.7.5 Public Spaces....................................................................................................................... 56 3.7.6 Transportation Access .......................................................................................................... 57 3.7.6.1 Roadways and Sidewalks .................................................................................... 57 3.7.6.2 Transit Connectivity ............................................................................................. 58 3.7.6.3 Non-motorized Access ......................................................................................... 64 3.7.6.4 Safety .................................................................................................................. 66 3.7.7 Environmental Screening ..................................................................................................... 66 3.8 Considerations ..................................................................................................................... 67 3.8.1 Prior Planning Studies .......................................................................................................... 67 3.8.2 Socioeconomic Growth ........................................................................................................ 70 3.8.3 Land Acquisition ................................................................................................................... 73 3.8.4 Conflicting Land Uses .......................................................................................................... 74 4. Market Assessment .................................................................................................. 75 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 75 4.2 Residential Market Trends ................................................................................................... 75 4.3 Transit-Oriented Development Trends ................................................................................. 83 4.3.1 Metra Station Area Development Trends .............................................................................. 83 4.3.1.1 Multi-family .......................................................................................................... 84 4.3.1.2 Office ................................................................................................................... 84 4.3.1.3 Retail ................................................................................................................... 85 Prepared for: City of Des Plaines AECOM Draft Final Report Des Plaines Station Feasibilty Study DRAFT 4.3.2 Peer Development Trends .................................................................................................... 86 4.3.2.1 Multi-family .......................................................................................................... 86 4.3.2.2 Office ................................................................................................................... 87 4.3.2.3 Retail ................................................................................................................... 88 4.3.3 Potential Oakton Station Development ................................................................................. 90 4.3.3.1 Long-Term Potential Growth ................................................................................ 90 4.3.3.2 Site-Specific Development Opportunities and Prototypes ................................... 92 5. Public Outreach ........................................................................................................ 96 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 96 5.2 Project Awareness ................................................................................................................ 96 5.2.1 Project Branding and Website .............................................................................................. 96 5.2.2 Social Media ......................................................................................................................... 97 5.2.3 Awareness within the City and Local Businesses ................................................................. 97 5.3 Community Input .................................................................................................................. 98 5.3.1 Open House ......................................................................................................................... 98 5.3.2 Community Ridership Survey ............................................................................................... 99 5.3.3 Website Response ............................................................................................................. 102 5.3.4 Stakeholder Interviews ....................................................................................................... 102 5.3.4.1 Impact on Oakton Street District ........................................................................ 102 5.3.4.2 Development Potential ...................................................................................... 103 5.3.4.3 Connectivity & Quality of Life ............................................................................. 103 5.4 Public Outreach Conclusions ............................................................................................. 104 6. Travel Demand .......................................................................................................