CMAP Media Tip Sheet

August 21, 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.

Impact of Cook County property taxes explored in interactive on-line series

Using interactive, data-driven graphics, CMAP has launched the second in a series of two issue briefs that shed light on how the property tax classification can impede economic development and infill. Cook County Property Tax Classification highlights how phasing out this system could make established communities more attractive for redevelopment and infill of vacant or underutilized land.  By exploring a clickable map and related data, the user can compare how residential, commercial, and industrial property tax rates vary across West Cook and South Cook communities.  The previous installment, Decoding Property Taxes and Classification, is an overview of how property tax rates are determined, what the taxes pay for, which government units get the revenue, and why property tax assessment classification matters.                                                                                

CMAP report on expressway-based Bus Rapid Transit helps municipalities and transportation agencies plan effectively

To help improve regional mobility,  CMAP published Land Use Policies and Strategies for Expressway-Based Bus Rapid Transit as a policy and strategy guide as well as a technical document, both of which focus on ways to encourage supportive land use for expressway-based Bus Rapid  Transit (BRT). BRT is gaining momentum as a flexible, cost-effective solution that improves transit and reduces congestion. Bus-based solutions like BRT are one option to provide transit on proposed new and upgraded expressway facilities that are being evaluated for possible deployment in several GO TO 2040 major capital projects.

CMAP's Policy Updates blog explores key challenges and opportunities of new freight "drill-down" report

A three-part series of Policy Updates explores key challenges and opportunities of CMAP's new freight  "drill-down" report , one of the Chicago region's strongest industry clusters.  The first post analyzes the report's findings on freight infrastructure.  The second post looks at the role of innovation in the freight cluster and how harnessing the innovative potential of regional firms will best position the cluster for sustained growth. The final blog tackles challenges and opportunities for the cluster related to workforce.  (SPECIAL NOTE: Please watch for CMAP's launch this fall of a new MetroPulse Jobs portal with extensive freight data that will help facilitate workforce development in this important economic sector.)

High rate of applications for CMAP Local Technical Assistance indicates the need to augment planning capacity of the region's communities

More than 80 applicants submitted 109 project ideas for CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) programsecond call for projects. A summary of the projects and a map of the applicants' locations are available at www.cmap.illinois.gov/lta. Project selections will be announced on October 10, 2012. A  program update of more than two dozen current LTA projects is also available on-line. Among many community highlights, on August 13, 2012, the City of Evanston approved a water conservation and efficiency plan developed through the LTA program. The plan will be incorporated into the implementation strategy of the Evanston Climate Action Plan.

Energy Impact Illinois offers rebates to jump-start energy savings

Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) now has rebates to offer for a limited time. Single family homeowners can apply for up to $1,750 in rebates for qualifying energy efficiency measures. For more information about the rebate, residents can call 855-9-IMPACT or visit energyimpactillinois.org on the web.  Staff is available to make community presentations about the new rebates, and interested communities can contact Emily Plagman at eplagman@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.