Project Context

The Dempster Corridor Plan will establish a vision for Morton Grove’s primary commercial corridor and the backbone of the community. A project of the Village of Morton Grove and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the plan will offer recommendations to improve access to transit and existing corridor destinations, reinvest in existing and attract new transit-supportive development, and enhance safety and connectivity for all corridor users, especially transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Dempster Street spans nearly three miles east-west across the Village, providing connections to housing, shops and restaurants, doctors’ offices and dentists, schools, and community destinations like Harrer Park and the Legion. With four Pace Bus routes and the nearby Morton Grove Metra station, the area is transit-rich and ripe with opportunity.

Launched in 2023, the Pace Pulse Dempster Line now complements the existing Route 250 with faster, more frequent service every 15-20 minutes to popular destinations along the corridor between Evanston and O’Hare Airport.

Project Goals

Guided by the community and a Steering Committee of the Village’s elected and appointed officials, the planning process will unfold over the course of one year with several checkpoints for community review and input. The final plan will:

• Provide land use and economic development recommendations to sustain existing businesses while also attracting new development;

• Identify infrastructure improvements to improve safety for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, and people riding transit; and

• Outline a guide for the Village to implement strategies and projects that improve transportation infrastructure, support transit-oriented development, manage parking, and enhance connectivity between Pace and Metra.

Timeline

The planning process officially launched in April 2025 and will span approximately one year. Engagement events and opportunities for public input will happen throughout the process.

Planning Team

Village staff, RTA, and a Project Steering Committee are managing the planning process, with technical assistance from a consultant team led by Teska Associates alongside TYLin and Egret & Ox.