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GO TO 2040

Metropolitan Chicago is one of the world's great economic centers, but we cannot afford to take our quality of life for granted. GO TO 2040 is the comprehensive regional plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities plan together for sustainable prosperity through mid-century and beyond.

GO TO 2040 main

In October 2014, the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan was updated in accordance with federal law. It addresses the requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) that was signed into law in 2012. Due to GO TO 2040's long time horizon and positive impacts of plan implementation to date, the plan's themes and recommendations did not change as part of the update. 

All GO TO 2040 materials, including the plan update summary and its appendices, a full-length plan that is for policy experts, and a shorter plan that is for a broader audience, are accessible as PDFs. GO TO 2040 calls on local officials, businesses, and other stakeholder groups to implement recommendations that -- while very specific -- have broad implications for residents' daily lives. To illustrate that point, CMAP has also created a series of portraits describing residents whose stories help to bring the plan to life.

READ MORE: A Pivotal Moment

Scroll down to begin exploring our region's comprehensive plan.

Livable Communities

This theme addresses diverse factors that together shape quality of life in terms of "livability" -- what attracts people to a particular community. Read more in the full Livable Communities chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Achieve Greater Livability through Land Use and Housing
  2. Manage and Conserve Water and Energy Resources
  3. Expand and Improve Parks and Open Space
  4. Promote Sustainable Local Food

Human Capital

This theme addresses factors that determine whether our region's economy will thrive due to the availability of skilled workers and a climate in which commercial creativity can flourish. Read more in the Human Capital chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Improve Education and Workforce Development
  2. Support Economic Innovation

Efficient Governance

This theme addresses the need for increased effectiveness of governments in the region and beyond, which is important to meet residents' needs regarding accountability and transparency. Read more in the full Efficient Governance chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Reform State and Local Tax Policy
  2. Improve Access to Information
  3. Pursue Coordinated Investments

Regional Mobility

This theme addresses the vitality of our region's transportation system, which is crucial for economic prosperity and overall quality of life. Read more in the full Regional Mobility chapter.

This chapter also includes descriptions of major capital projects that have been carefully selected to help achieve the GO TO 2040 Regional Vision.

  1. Invest Strategically in Transportation
  2. Increase Commitment to Public Transit
  3. Create a More Efficient Freight Network

Context and Best Practices

The Context and Best Practices chapter provides a fuller context for the types of actions that help implement the plan. It does not provide specific, targeted recommendations for "who should do what," but it does broadly describe supporting actions. Best practices and case studies are used extensively to provide examples, and also to demonstrate that many actions that support the plan are already underway in metropolitan Chicago. Some of these examples may go beyond the plan's 12 major recommendation areas, while providing evidence that many of the actions that support the plan are already in place.  Download the Context and Best Practices Chapter (PDF).
 

Supporting Materials

Supporting materials of the GO TO 2040 plan include its appendices, portraits, and a process archive.
 
Plan Update
In October 2014, the seven-county metropolitan Chicago region's official comprehensive plan GO TO 2040 was updated in accordance with federal law.
 
Appendices
GO TO 2040 appendices document information related to the plan's development, including public engagement, research and analysis, and more. 
 
Portraits
The GO TO 2040 plan is about improving quality of life for residents, who are the region's greatest renewable resource.  To highlight how the plan's themes and recommendations can shape our daily lives, a series of "Portraits" describes individuals from across the region who shared their personal stories and hopes for the future. Each portrait features a video, photos, and a short profile.
 
Process Archive
The process archive documents the many phases of plan development.
 

VAMOS AL AÑO 2040

Todos los materiales del plan VAMOS AL AÑO 2040, incluyendo el resumen del plan actualizado y sus apéndices, el plan entero (disponible solo en inglés) que es para expertos de política, y el plan corto para un público amplio, estan disponibles como PDFs. 

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In October 2014, the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan was updated in accordance with federal law. It addresses the requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) that was signed into law in 2012. Due to GO TO 2040's long time horizon and positive impacts of plan implementation to date, the plan's themes and recommendations did not change as part of the update. 

All GO TO 2040 materials, including the plan update summary and its appendices, a full-length plan that is for policy experts, and a shorter plan that is for a broader audience, are accessible as PDFs. GO TO 2040 calls on local officials, businesses, and other stakeholder groups to implement recommendations that -- while very specific -- have broad implications for residents' daily lives. To illustrate that point, CMAP has also created a series of portraits describing residents whose stories help to bring the plan to life.

READ MORE: A Pivotal Moment

Scroll down to begin exploring our region's comprehensive plan.

Livable Communities

This theme addresses diverse factors that together shape quality of life in terms of "livability" -- what attracts people to a particular community. Read more in the full Livable Communities chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Achieve Greater Livability through Land Use and Housing
  2. Manage and Conserve Water and Energy Resources
  3. Expand and Improve Parks and Open Space
  4. Promote Sustainable Local Food

Human Capital

This theme addresses factors that determine whether our region's economy will thrive due to the availability of skilled workers and a climate in which commercial creativity can flourish. Read more in the Human Capital chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Improve Education and Workforce Development
  2. Support Economic Innovation

Efficient Governance

This theme addresses the need for increased effectiveness of governments in the region and beyond, which is important to meet residents' needs regarding accountability and transparency. Read more in the full Efficient Governance chapter or one of the recommended actions:

  1. Reform State and Local Tax Policy
  2. Improve Access to Information
  3. Pursue Coordinated Investments

Regional Mobility

This theme addresses the vitality of our region's transportation system, which is crucial for economic prosperity and overall quality of life. Read more in the full Regional Mobility chapter.

This chapter also includes descriptions of major capital projects that have been carefully selected to help achieve the GO TO 2040 Regional Vision.

  1. Invest Strategically in Transportation
  2. Increase Commitment to Public Transit
  3. Create a More Efficient Freight Network

Context and Best Practices

The Context and Best Practices chapter provides a fuller context for the types of actions that help implement the plan. It does not provide specific, targeted recommendations for "who should do what," but it does broadly describe supporting actions. Best practices and case studies are used extensively to provide examples, and also to demonstrate that many actions that support the plan are already underway in metropolitan Chicago. Some of these examples may go beyond the plan's 12 major recommendation areas, while providing evidence that many of the actions that support the plan are already in place.  Download the Context and Best Practices Chapter (PDF).
 

Supporting Materials

Supporting materials of the GO TO 2040 plan include its appendices, portraits, and a process archive.
 
Plan Update
In October 2014, the seven-county metropolitan Chicago region's official comprehensive plan GO TO 2040 was updated in accordance with federal law.
 
Appendices
GO TO 2040 appendices document information related to the plan's development, including public engagement, research and analysis, and more. 
 
Portraits
The GO TO 2040 plan is about improving quality of life for residents, who are the region's greatest renewable resource.  To highlight how the plan's themes and recommendations can shape our daily lives, a series of "Portraits" describes individuals from across the region who shared their personal stories and hopes for the future. Each portrait features a video, photos, and a short profile.
 
Process Archive
The process archive documents the many phases of plan development.
 

VAMOS AL AÑO 2040

Todos los materiales del plan VAMOS AL AÑO 2040, incluyendo el resumen del plan actualizado y sus apéndices, el plan entero (disponible solo en inglés) que es para expertos de política, y el plan corto para un público amplio, estan disponibles como PDFs. 

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