CMAP Media Tip Sheet

May 16, 2012

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 Hillary Green (312-386-8619 and hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.
 

Free media registration for May 24 "Ideas Exchange" event highlighting community planning successes and opportunities

Dozens of municipalities across the metropolitan Chicago region are planning effectively with help from the CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, which provides staff support for community-based planning projects that implement recommendations from the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan. On May 24, the first Ideas Exchange event will describe LTA's first year, including successes of 70 local governments, nonprofits, and intergovernmental organizations addressing local issues at the intersection of transportation, land use, housing, the environment, economy, and community development.  News media can register for free by emailing hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov or calling 312-386-8619.  Attendees will gain insights about the new LTA 2012 call for projects, and about grant funding opportunities such as the CMAP Community Planning program, a partnership with the Regional Transportation Authority.  The event, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will be held at UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, Chicago.  The LTA program is supported by a grant to CMAP from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

 

New animations detail I-90 truck travel speeds, travel during peak and off-peak hours

CMAP has posted a series of animated maps that show truck travel speeds on portions of I-90 and allow users to compare variability of speeds by day of the week. For example, several I-90 segments are especially slow during Friday afternoon peak periods.  Data was aggregated by milepost, time of day, and day of the week from April to October 2011.  As shown by recently posted Congestion Management Process data, most truck travel already occurs during off-peak hours. GO TO 2040 recommends strategies for governments and businesses to facilitate additional off-peak travel by trucks.

 

Student leaders to spotlight environmental impacts of snow and ice removal

On May 31, CMAP's Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) students will share their findings on innovative ice and snow removal techniques that can help reduce environmental impacts in a special event at Journey World (770 N. Halsted, Chicago) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. In presentations to elected officials and other community leaders from across the region, students will give multimedia demonstrations on best practices to remove snow.  These civic-minded teenagers will highlight lessons learned during the school year while participating in FLIP, which is a youth leadership development program in which high school students from across the seven counties meet one Saturday per month to get immersed in issues that shape our region's economy and quality of life.

 

New parking strategies report serves as municipal tool for supporting livability

As one of many communities' largest single land uses, parking has a huge influence on economic development and quality of life.  To help municipalities use parking as a tool that promotes livability, CMAP has published a step-by-step guide titled "Parking Strategies to Support Livable Communities." The document is part of CMAP's Local Ordinances and Toolkits program that provides resources to municipalities interested in pursuing policies that are aligned with GO TO 2040 recommendations.

 

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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.