The Downtown Joliet ETOD Plan will create a shared vision for areas surrounding Joliet Gateway Center. The goal of an ETOD is to create a compact, mixed-use environment where residents of all incomes and backgrounds have quality access to employment opportunities, necessary services, public transportation, and desired amenities within an interwoven environment, generally without the need for a car. The Plan will identify strategies to enhance development opportunities, in addition to transportation accessibility, around the Joliet Gateway Center while ensuring the station areas contribute to welcoming and active destinations and maximize the potential of undeveloped and underutilized land. 

Extensive public outreach will be conducted throughout the 14-month planning process, and the community’s vision will drive the Plan’s direction and recommendations. Ultimately, the Plan will illustrate how the area should evolve over the next 10 years and strategies for achieving that vision. 

The Downtown Joliet ETOD Plan will be made up of several important and interrelated components including: 

• Market Analysis

• Developer Panel Discussion with Urban Land Institute of Chicago 

• Land Use Framework; 

• Urban Design Framework; 

• Redevelopment Site Concepts (Up to 2 sites) 

• Multi-modal Transportation Framework; 

• Implementation Program. 

Collectively, the Plan will provide City officials and decision-makers with a shared long-term vision for the Study Area and needed strategies and tools. 

It is critical that all of Joliet’s stakeholders are involved in the development of the ETOD Plan. The City is committed to involving residents, businesses, and workers in the process in order to craft a common community vision for study area future. In addition to broad community engagement, the planning process is being guided by a Steering Committee that serves as a community sounding board, meeting at key points along the process to advise on issues and overall planning direction.  

In addition to City staff and representatives from RTA and Metra, the Steering Committee includes a diverse mix of station area business and property owners, residents, and members of the development community. 

Existing plans and studies are an important part of the ETOD Plan process. This includes the Joliet Downtown Plan, Chicago Street Corridor Plan, and City Square & Chicago Street Reconstruction Projects.  

These Plans will inform the Downtown Joliet ETOD Plan, and in some cases will be incorporated into the plan if the goals and vision are still consistent with the community’s aspirations.