What is the Soles and Spokes Plan?
The Soles and Spokes Plan is a plan development process to improve the ability to get around metropolitan Chicago by foot or by bicycle. The plan also addresses the needs of people with disabilities. The plan will recommend policies and projects to improve the safety, convenience and frequency of walking and cycling throughout the region.
Why is the Soles and Spokes Plan being developed?
Walking and cycling, alone and combined with transit, can help address concerns about congestion, pollution, social equity, public health, and quality of life. In addition, more accessible public rights of way can help address the mobility needs of people with disabilities. A regional bicycle and pedestrian plan will identify needs, promote "best practices," and facilitate coordination by communities and transportation agencies in northeastern Illinois.
Who is involved with the Soles and Spokes Plan?
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is developing the Soles and Spokes Plan. As the staff for the metropolitan planning organization for northeastern Illinois, CMAP develops the long-range transportation plan and transportation improvement program for the region. CMAP also provides bicycle and pedestrian planning assistance to local communities and agencies.
To help develop the Soles and Spokes Plan, CATS, CMAP's predecessor, retained consultants from Edwards and Kelcey, Sprinkle Consulting, T.Y. Lin International, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Suzan Pinsof Consulting, and the League of Illinois Bicyclists. However, the effort is now staffed by CMAP staff. CMAP also assembled a steering group of representatives from area transportation agencies, communities and citizen groups. Public Involvement has also played a critical role in the process.
What will the Soles and Spokes Plan do?
• Report on existing conditions for bicycle and pedestrian transportation in northeastern Illinois. (complete)
• Identify gaps in existing conditions data. (complete)
• Update and improve the CMAP database of regional pedestrian and bicycle facilities. (complete)
• Identify national best practices for bicycle and pedestrian transportation and detail their possible effectiveness in northeastern Illinois. (in process)
• Develop regional goals and objectives for bicycle and pedestrian transportation. (in process)
• Propose programs, policies and projects for meeting and implementing the regional goals and objectives, including the identification of funding sources (in process)
• Develop a project development and implementation "toolbox" for voluntary use by local, regional, and state agencies. (in process)
• Identify action steps for agencies and organizations to continue integrating bicycle and pedestrian planning into community and transportation planning processes. (future)
• Combine the tasks listed above into a regional bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan for final adoption with appropriate public involvement. (future)
What is the project timeline?
The project is behind schedule. The revised project timeline calls for completion in December, 2008.