Transit-Oriented Development Street Designation Proposed to Foster Pedestrian-Friendly Corridors

Commercial corridors in transit-served locations would be eligible for a new zoning designation promoting pedestrian-oriented development under a measure introduced to City Council today by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Corridors designated by the City as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Streets would carry zoning standards intended to encourage walkable, mixed-use development and higher-density housing near transit. Corridors located within .5 miles of a CTA or Metra train station or .25 miles of a qualifying CTA bus line would be eligible for TOD Street designation.

TOD Street designation would also establish a series of prohibited uses along a corridor, including drive-thrus, vehicle sales, gas stations and other automobile-oriented businesses.

The TOD Street designation would serve as a broader tool for fostering pedestrian-oriented development than the zoning code's existing P-Street designation, which has eligibility criteria that excludes many business and commercial corridors.

The Department of Planning and Development would work with City Council members to pair future TOD Street designation with corridor upzoning near transit, building on the City's proactive upzoning of nearly 5,000 parcels across Chicago over the past two years.