2010 News Releases

NEWS RELEASE: MetroPulse tracks metropolitan Chicago's quality of life (11-17-10)
The Regional Indicators Project's new MetroPulse web system has been launched at www.metropulsechicago.org. Created in partnership by CMAP and The Chicago Community Trust, MetroPulse gives the public a simple but powerful interface to access a vast warehouse of data on quality-of-life factors in the seven-county region. MetroPulse represents a major implementation step of the new GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan. Read more in a press release and view a webinar demonstration.

NEWS RELEASE: HUD grant boosts GO TO 2040 implementation (10-14-10)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program has awarded $4.25 million to CMAP for implementation of the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan. See the press release.

NEWS RELEASE: Launch of the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan (10-13-10)
CMAP and its partners met Wednesday, October 13, 2010, on the rooftop of the Harris Theater at Millennium Park to launch the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan's all-important implementation phase. Earlier that day, the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee voted unanimously to adopt the plan. Read more in the CMAP press release (also available in Spanish) and Internet Press Kit. Also see a recap of the event, including a slideshow.

Comment period ends for draft GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan (8-6-10)
The draft GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan comment period has now ended. Each comment received will be carefully considered and included in an appendix to the plan, which will be revised before going to the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee for final approval on October 13, 2010. Based on nearly three years of research, deliberation, and public input, the plan recommends action in four themes: Livable Communities, Regional Mobility, Human Capital, and Efficient Governance. By implementing GO TO 2040, our region will:

Emphasize support for existing communities.
Encourage more compact, sustainable development patterns.
Increase the efficiency and transparency of government through better decision making.
Reduce congestion by emphasizing modernization (rather than expansion) of the current transportation system.
Give residents more options for getting around, including transit, walking, and bicycling.
Improve parks and preserve open space.
Reduce consumption of energy and water.

We appreciate everyone's input and look forward to your continued participation when the plan's crucial implementation phase begins in October. Stay tuned for the relaunched CMAP website with engaging new content about the GO TO 2040 plan. You can view a compilation of comments received to date here.

Draft GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan posted for comment through August 6, 2010
The draft GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan is now available for public comment through August 6, 2010.Based on nearly three years of research, deliberation, and public input, the plan recommends action in four themes: Livable Communities, Regional Mobility, Human Capital, and Efficient Governance. By implementing GO TO 2040, our region will:

Emphasize support for existing communities.
Encourage more compact, sustainable development patterns.
Increase the efficiency and transparency of government through better decision making.
Reduce congestion by emphasizing modernization (rather than expansion) of the current transportation system.
Give residents more options for getting around, including transit, walking, and bicycling.
Improve parks and preserve open space.
Reduce consumption of energy and water.

Residents can have their say by commenting or attending one of 10 open houses across the region this summer. The final GO TO 2040 plan will be presented to CMAP's Board and MPO Policy Committee for approval in October, when the plan's implementation phase will begin.

NEWS RELEASE: Northeastern Illinois to receive $25 million stimulus for energy retrofits (4-21-10)
On April 21, 2010, Vice President Joe Biden announced 25 awards nationally through the U.S. Department of Energy Retrofit Ramp-Up stimulus initiative. A regional collaboration led by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) -- in partnership with the City of Chicago and the City of Rockford, with support from suburban and regional stakeholders -- will receive $25 million to transform the market for carrying out energy-efficient retrofits to commercial and residential buildings in northeastern Illinois. The project is significant for its potential to reduce a large region's energy footprint and as a model for inter-jurisdictional collaboration. Read more in the CMAP press release, and see coverage in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and Crain's Chicago Business.

NEWS RELEASE: Northeastern Illinois regional water plan is approved(1-26-10)
The Regional Water Supply Planning Group for 11 counties of northeastern Illlinois voted unanimously on January 26, 2010, to approve a landmark plan to ensure the availability of clean water for household and commercial use for the future. Coordinated by CMAP, the Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan was commissioned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to address issues of population growth which greatly affect our region as we look to the year 2050 and the future demands on our water supply. Improved conservation and coordinated resource management are a necessity if we are to make sure that both residents and businesses in the region have access to clean water. Read more in this CMAP press release and at the Water Supply page.

NEWS RELEASE: Preferred Regional Scenario establishes policy directions of the GO TO 2040 plan (1-21-10)
By 2040, the seven-county region can have better transportation, increased economic development, cleaner air and water, more-accessible jobs and housing, and other quality-of-life improvements, say leaders of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) in a press release. The agency today released its preferred Regional Scenario -- one last precursor to the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan that will be available in draft form this spring, with implementation of the final plan to begin in October 2010. The Regional Scenario (www.cmap.illinois.gov/2040scenario) establishes clear policy directions that CMAP will pursue in the plan itself, which is intended to guide growth and investment choices through mid-century and beyond in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. Based on two years of research, analysis, and public input, the scenario tackles pressing issues that require coordinated solutions at the local and regional levels.