Cook County’s Next Long-Range Transportation Plan
Cook County is currently developing the Next Long-Range Transportation Plan — a strategic roadmap that will guide how the County invests in and improves transportation for its residents and businesses. The plan will build on the foundation of Connecting Cook County, the Long-Range Transportation Plan published in 2016. The plan will respond to evolving transportation needs and lessons learned over the last decade, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which reshaped travel patterns, priorities and community expectations across Cook County.
WHY THIS PLAN MATTERS
The transportation system is essential to daily life in Cook County. It connects people to jobs and schools, supports local and regional businesses, enables the movement of goods and shapes quality of life across communities. As the largest county in Illinois and the second largest county in the nation by population, Cook County relies on a complex transportation system that includes roads, bridges, public transit service, freight rail and infrastructure for walking and biking.
Cook County’s Next Long-Range Transportation Plan will help guide how the transportation network evolves to meet changing needs, priorities and travel patterns. The plan will include new strategies for the future of County-owned or maintained transportation assets, and will also support the work of municipalities, transit agencies, regional partners and other transportation stakeholders. The plan will help align priorities, coordinate investments and advance shared transportation goals across jurisdictions.
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF CONNECTING COOK COUNTY
Adopted as Cook County’s first comprehensive long-range transportation plan in more than 75 years, Connecting Cook County marked a historic milestone for the region. The plan established a shared vision for smarter, more equitable transportation investments and set the stage for meaningful progress across the transportation system. Over the past decade, this strong foundation has helped drive major transportation successes.
WHAT THE NEXT PLAN WILL INCLUDE
Building on previous planning efforts, Cook County’s Next Long-Range Transportation Plan will include:
- An assessment of current conditions, strengths and challenges across all transportation modes, including roads, transit, freight, biking and walking
- A clear, Countywide vision for a more connected, resilient and accessible transportation system
- Public and stakeholder engagement throughout the planning process
- Data-driven analysis to identify system needs, gaps and opportunities
- Defined priorities, policies and roles to guide transportation investment, decision-making and accountability
- Strategies and projects that improve mobility, safety, equity and economic vitality Countywide
- Financial and implementation strategies to ensure recommendations lead to real-world improvements
ANTICIPATED TIMELINE
Cook County’s Next Long-Range Transportation Plan will be developed over an approximately two-year period:
WHO TO CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
For questions about Cook County’s Next Long-Range Transportation Plan or the planning process, please contact the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) at next.lrtp@cookcountyil.gov.
Additional contact details and opportunities to connect with the project team will be shared on this webpage as the planning process moves forward.