: The PACE Suburban bus that runs from Aurora to Naperville as well as other local routes will have a new staging area once proposed upgrades are in place at the Aurora Transportation Center. A pedestrian bridge over the Fox River and more parking are also planned. (Suburban Chronicle photo

Additional parking, a Fox River pedestrian bridge and a new location for PACE suburban buses are among proposals under consideration as part of a four-year plan to reorganize and enhance public transit at the Aurora Transportation Center.

Residents had an opportunity to review and comment on current plans for the project at an Open House held last week at Aurora’s City Hall.

The project could cost between $14 and $16 million according to estimates.

The transportation center — which serves around 2,000 commuters daily — is the terminus for Metra’s Burlington Northern/Santa Fe commuter rail line, central location for nine PACE Suburban bus routes and also offers inter-city bus as well as local taxi service.

Aurora officials promise to provide “a safer, more accessible, and user-friendly transit station. More than 2,000 commuters use this station daily,” according to a statement.

The proposed improvements include:

• Relocating the Pace Bus staging area to the east side of the commuter parking lot to improve safety and reduce bus delay into and out of transit center.
• Construction of a multi-use pedestrian and bicyclist bridge over the Fox River to provide direct access to the ATC Train Station from the existing under-utilized parking lots on the west side of the River, connecting surrounding neighborhoods and existing regional bike trail.
• Constructing a parking lot that will add additional commuter parking stalls, a new drive isle, sidewalk, and taxi and drop-off areas within the current bus staging area.
• Adding new sidewalks, curbs, ADA ramps, and bike shelters.
• Installing new traffic signal on Illinois Route 25 (Broadway) in conjunction with intersection improvements into the ATC parking lot to improve access capacity and safety.

This project is anticipated to be largely funded by a federal grant from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. If the grant is awarded, construction is expected to begin in 2017.

The proposed bridge was originally part of plans for recreation plans as part of the development of RiverEdge Park, which opened in 0000, as well as surrounding areas.

Written comments may be completed mailed no later than Wednesday, Sept. 9 to: City of Aurora, Division of Public Works/Engineering, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507.

— More parking, makeover planned at Aurora Transportation Center —