Transit-Friendly Communities Guide

A guide to support and educate local leaders about ETOD and making communities more transit-friendly

CHICAGO REGION · REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Project Highlights

  • Teska developed illustrative design concepts depict ETOD opportunities and transit-friendly enhancements for prototypical transit areas across the region
  • Guide includes a toolbox of best practices in access infrastructure as well as land use and transportation policies
  • Focus groups conducted with transportation agencies, developers, municipal planners, and nonprofit and community-based organizations (stipend provided)
  • Ten case studies highlight transit success stories
  • Implementation checklist features questions and action steps for communities

Teska led a team, alongside TYLin/Sam Schwartz and Egret & Ox, to develop a guidebook that educates decision-makers about practical ways to make communities more transit-friendly and ready for equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD). The document updates the 2012 RTA Setting the Stage for Transit Guidebook, incorporating concepts such as changing commuter trends, micromobility, equitable engagement, and affordable housing. A Steering Committee guided the project, with representatives from municipal and county government, CTA, Metra, Pace, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, and developers.

“By pulling together information into one consolidated and well-illustrated guidebook, municipalities can reference and share strategies for creating more livable communities.”

- Juan M. Villafañe, AIA LEED AP BD+C | Krueck Sexton & Project Steering Committee Member



  • Concept depicts new transit-friendly enhancements in a prototypical suburban downtown with a rail station: new mixed-use and residential development on underutilized parking and vacant lots, multi-family housing redevelopment near the train station, enhanced pedestrian connections to/from transit, and a new public gathering space

    Concept depicts new transit-friendly enhancements in a prototypical suburban downtown with a rail station: new mixed-use and residential development on underutilized parking and vacant lots, multi-family housing redevelopment near the train station, enhanced pedestrian connections to/from transit, and a new public gathering space

  • For this urban train station and bus route concept, transit-friendly enhancements include: infill residential and commercial development on vacant lots, a bikeshare station, and enhanced crosswalks to make pedestrian crossings safer

    For this urban train station and bus route concept, transit-friendly enhancements include: infill residential and commercial development on vacant lots, a bikeshare station, and enhanced crosswalks to make pedestrian crossings safer

  • Transit-friendly enhancements to a prototypical bus corridor: new residential with increased densities and commercial development on underutilized parking lots, pedestrian connections from the bus stops and sidewalks to building entrances, a new public gathering space, and narrower roadways and enhanced crosswalks to make pedestrian crossings safer

    Transit-friendly enhancements to a prototypical bus corridor: new residential with increased densities and commercial development on underutilized parking lots, pedestrian connections from the bus stops and sidewalks to building entrances, a new public gathering space, and narrower roadways and enhanced crosswalks to make pedestrian crossings safer

  • The guide includes graphics depicting optimal land use densities needed to support high-frequency transit

    The guide includes graphics depicting optimal land use densities needed to support high-frequency transit