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player ready...Efforts to improve the areas surrounding its two commuter train stations could make Tinley Park the first suburb to take advantage of a new program sponsored by the Regional Transportation Authority.
“The first and main focus is the Oak Park Avenue station because of the interest in revitalizing that area,” said Assistant Village Manager Craig Hullinger. “But we thought as long as (the consultants) are out, they could look at the other one.”
There are two Metra stations in the village, one on Oak Park Avenue in the historic downtown area and the other on 80th Avenue near the Bristol Park subdivision.
If plans are approved by the RTA, the agency would provide Tinley Park with matching funds up to $20,000 to commission consultants to develop plans for both stations. Officials are expected to authorize the village’s half of the money at their meeting Tuesday.
Key issues regarding the Oak Park Avenue station are parking and pedestrian access, according to village documents, while guiding development is central to the 80th Avenue building.
Reed Lee of the RTA said he is surprised more communities have not applied for the program, which began in March.
“We’ve gotten a lot of calls and they say they want to discuss projects but the proposal never shows up,” Lee said. “I’m not sure where the problem is.”
Lee said Tinley Park and Blue Island are “neck and neck” to be the first users of the program, with both towns making presentations to the RTA board next month. Blue Island is seeking $10,000 from the RTA, he noted.
“We came up with this as a means of encouraging transit-oriented development in the region,” Lee said.
Once the proposal is approved and a consultant chosen, the study would be completed in three to six months, he added.