Location
Western Springs, IL
Client
Village of Western Springs
Services
Parking Planning + Policy
Transportation Demand Management
Signage + Wayfinding
Western Springs DOwntown Parking Plan
Western Springs, home to one of the area’s busiest Metra regional rail stations, is a vibrant community that attracts a variety of residents and visitors each day. Sam Schwartz was retained by the Village to development parking management strategies that complement long-term development plans, enhance economic development, and support alternative transportation modes.
The engagement began with an in-depth data collection process as well as several public workshops to gain a deeper understanding of the Village’s unique parking issues and opportunities. This analysis was then used to project future parking demand, pinpoint likely problem facilities, and identify potential assets. These findings guided a feasibility assessment of shared parking agreements, and the development of a procedural process for creating such agreements between land owners and selected employers. Lastly, the project team worked with the city and major employers to identify and develop transportation demand management (TDM) policies and smart growth strategies to reduce future parking demand and encourage alternative transportation options.