CMAP will hold a public hearing to gain input on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds regional application on Monday, July 6, 2009, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at 233 South Wacker Drive (Sears Tower), Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. In accordance with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Notice of Funding Availability, CMAP is taking the lead on a regional application for Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds with a consortium of local government partners known as the Chicago Metropolitan Neighborhood Stabilization Consortium (CMNSPC). HUD's competitive grant process is part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Copies of the application materials are available at http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/nsp.
CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn has made a brief statement regarding CMAP's funding status in light of the current State of Illinois budget impasse.
CMAP has just begun an important new “Invent the Future” phase of the GO TO 2040 comprehensive planning process, which you can read about in a news release. Your input will help us prioritize regional investments and policies. In venues all over the region — timed to coincide with this summer’s centennial celebration of Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago — you can:
- Attend one of 50 “Invent the Future” GO TO 2040 scenario workshops that CMAP will hold with partners across the seven counties.
- Visit www.goto2040.org to create your own growth scenarios and compare them to CMAP's.
- Test-drive interactive GO TO 2040 kiosks at dozens of locations, including Millennium Park, Metra stations, libraries, festivals, and other sites around the region.
Draft greenways and trails plan
CMAP would like your input on the draft 2009 Update of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways and Trails Plan. Originally completed in 1992 and updated in 1997, the plan envisions a network of continuous greenway and trail corridors, linked across jurisdictions, providing scenic beauty, natural habitat, and recreational and transportation opportunities for our communities. Please submit comments to Lori Heringa (312-386-8621 or lheringa@cmap.illinois.gov) by 5:00 p.m. central on Friday, July 24, 2009.
Comcast's Political Update public affairs show recently focused on Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics. In his capacity as co-chair of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus 2016 Olympic Regional Coordinating Committee, CMAP board chairman Gerald Bennett participated in the discussion, along with Alderman Toni Preckwinkle and Patricia Hill of the Chicago Olympic Human Rights Project.
CMAP needs a few good -- make that "great" -- high school students to be part of its Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program, which is recruiting students for the second year. FLIP is a leadership development opportunity offered free of charge to students who are interested in contributing to a better future for our region. Participants will learn about northeastern Illinois by participating in hands-on activities and field trips on issues that concern us all, including housing, transportation, the environment and government. FLIP youth will meet and interact with regional leaders who make key planning decisions in our communities and learn what it takes to make positive change on regional and local levels. Students will also share their thoughts with other teens from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Applications and letters of reference are due Friday June 26th, 2009. Know anyone who might be interested? See http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/flip.aspx for application materials and more.
One of the most significant demographic changes expected in our region by 2040 is the rapidly increasing Latino population in northeastern Illinois. "Latinos in Our Region" is the latest in CMAP's Regional Snapshot series. Continuing a long-term trend, Latinos are expected to make up most of the region’s population growth between now and 2040. This snapshot report shows the nature of the increasing Latino population throughout the region and identifies major planning considerations. CAN-TV public television aired a pair of segments about the report in English and Spanish.
New data from the US Census Bureau show that the Chicago metro area is holding its own in terms of population growth for the period 2007-2008. We are still solidly ranked as the third largest metro region in the nation. The Chicago metro area includes the fourth fastest growing county in the entire country -- Kendall County -- with a population growth rate of 7.1 percent. This is especially notable because 94 of the 100 counties ranked by population growth were located either in the South or West regions of the country. See population tables with annual and cumulative data from 2000-08.
As referenced by the Chicago Tribune's Jon Hilkevitch ("Traffic down to mile, minute"), CMAP has posted some fascinating data and images describing congestion patterns on the region's freeways and tollways. The congestion scans and data were compiled through our Congestion Management Process. Based on the latest data (from 2007), they show basic congestion, travel time, and travel time reliability information for Chicago-area expressways and tollways that have sufficient instrumentation to calculate average travel speed.
The Chicago Tribune Magazine recently had a cover feature is about "The Future of Chicago," 100 years after Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago. The edition actually has several articles, starting with "Burnham's Gift," about the plan's ability to keep inspiring our region. The story "Going Forward" addresses today's efforts to build on the Burnham legacy. A significant portion of it deals with CMAP and our GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional planning campaign. The Trib's Blair Kamin makes a number of worthwhile points, including the leadership role that CMAP can play to ensure that regional priorities are reflected in infrastructure investments -- including the anticipated federal economic recovery package that President-elect Obama and Congress have made their highest priority.
CMAP Board chairman Gerald Bennett is also co-chairing the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus 2016 Olympic Regional Coordinating Committee. He recently appeared on the Comcast Network's Political Update, along with committee co-chairman Karen McConnaughay and caucus executive director David Bennett. Click here or see below for the video, which is about 30 minutes long.
We've added links to biosketches of the CMAP Board members at our "About CMAP" page, where you'll also find a map showing the Board's geographic composition. This diverse group of 15 voting members (plus two non-voting seats) has balanced representation from across the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. The board is chaired by Gerald Bennett, mayor of Palos Hills.
CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn was recently interviewed on Comcast's "Political Update" public affairs show. He talked about CMAP's vision for metropolitan Chicago, and the agency's innovative GO TO 2040 planning campaign to implement that regional vision.
Executive director Randy Blankenhorn was interviewed on WTTW's Chicago Tonight as part of the agency's launch of GO TO 2040, metropolitan Chicago’s first truly comprehensive regional planning campaign. Click here for a collection of other GO TO 2040 news links, and read more about the launch in the CMAP press release. The agency also announced its new partnership with The Chicago Community Trust, which is providing financial and research support. CMAP and the Trust are developing a set of regional indicators that will predict the effects of policies and investments that the region should implement to achieve its vision for the future.