CMAP Media Tip Sheet

February 18, 2011

This tip sheet briefly summarizes newsworthy activities of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Reporters should contact Justine Reisinger (312-386-8802 and jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov) or Tom Garritano (312-386-8609 and tgarritano@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.

 

Census 2010 redistricting data for Illinois now available
On February 15, 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau released 2010 Census redistricting data for Illinois, including population counts for smaller areas and breakdowns by race, voting age, Hispanic origin, and voting age.  See www.cmap.illinois.gov/2010-census for interactive visualizations and comparisons of 2010 data with 2000 and 1990.  The new data show that the Chicago metropolitan area grew from 8.2 million to 8.4 million residents between April 1, 2000 and April 1, 2010, an increase of 3.6 percent.  Read a more detailed breakdown at CMAP's Policy Updates blog, which also has analysis of population and household income in metropolitan Chicago from 2000 to 2009.

 

Independent study gauges economic impacts of GO TO 2040
A new analysis examines how implementing the GO TO 2040 comprehensive plan can benefit our region's economy. The report, titled Economic Impacts of GO TO 2040, was prepared by RW Ventures, LLC, with support from The Chicago Community Trust.  Authors Gretchen Kosarko and Robert Weissbourd state that GO TO 2040's regional scope will pay dividends in the form of skilled workers for dynamic clusters of strong industries, an enhanced environment of innovation and entrepreneurship, streamlined movement of goods and people, and governance that is more coordinated and efficient. The full report and an executive summary are available at www.cct.org/research/research. Also see an executive summary and related Chicago Community Trust press release. While the report does not place a dollar amount on overall economic impacts of the long-term plan, it states that GO TO 2040's regional scope will pay dividends in the form of:

• Skilled workers available for dynamic clusters of strong industries.
• An enhanced environment for innovation and entrepreneurship that drives the economy.
• More streamlined movement of goods and people.
• Coordinated governance that supports and enhances the performance of the economy.

 

Fox River Basin watershed plans aim to protect groundwater
The Fox River Basin's groundwater supply is under threat.  Current pumping of the shallow aquifers is reducing natural groundwater discharge to Fox River tributaries by approximately 10 percent as of 2005 and could rise as much as 50 percent or more by 2050, according to a 2010 Illinois State Water Survey report. Chloride concentrations in groundwater are also rising, due largely to road salts. Left unchecked, this would pose a great threat to the ecological integrity of the Fox River Basin. However, by year's end four watershed plans will be completed by CMAP within the Fox River Basin (Blackberry Creek, Ferson-Otter Creek, Silver Creek, and Sleepy Hollow Creek) through federal Clean Water Act funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The primary purpose of watershed planning is to address surface water quality as affected by nonpoint-source pollution and is especially important for communities whose primary water source is an inland river, as highlighted in Water 2050, the northeastern Illinois regional water supply/demand planning effort led by CMAP and adopted in January 2010. Watershed plans do not typically address groundwater protection, but current planning efforts in the Fox River Basin seek to include recommendations that address groundwater protection and support the conclusions of Water 2050. The four watershed plans aim to recommend that municipalities adopt part or all of CMAP's Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance to protect groundwater quantity, as well as develop voluntary Wellhead Protection Programs to protect groundwater quality. Key partners in these planning efforts are The Conservation Foundation, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County. Monthly planning meetings are held and open to the public; upcoming meeting dates and times are available on-line.

CMAP allocates federal funds to reduce diesel emissions
Through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program, CMAP directs about $70 million each year for projects that reduce emissions and improve the region's air.  A priority of CMAQ is funding for "clean diesel" engines, including ones that use ultra-low sulfur fuel.  CMAQ funds have supported clean diesel retrofits for transit buses, school buses, and municipal vehicles, in addition to "GenSet" (short for Generator Set) locomotives in which advanced computer technology allows three separate engines to be run one, two, or three at a time when needed, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.  For these efforts, CMAP won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative Leadership Recognition Program leadership award.  Since 2005, CMAP has allocated more than $72 million in federal CMAQ funds to clean diesel projects in northeastern Illinois.  Based on a new GO TO 2040 Focused Programming approach, a call for projects was recently distributed to the local Council of Mayors and major implementers (City of Chicago, IDOT, Counties, and service boards).  Local sponsors (municipalities, park districts, library districts, forest preserve districts, etc.) must submit an application to their planning liaison by March 18, 2011.  The final deadline to submit all applications to CMAP is April 1.  For more information, contact Holly Ostdick (312-386-8836 or hostdick@cmap.illinois.gov).

 

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About CMAP.  The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is the comprehensive regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. By state and federal law, CMAP is responsible for producing the region's official, integrated plan for land use and transportation. The agency's innovative GO TO 2040 planning campaign develops and implements strategies to shape the region's transportation system and development patterns, while also addressing the natural environment, economic development, housing, education, human services, and other factors shaping quality of life. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.