In October 2010, leaders from across the seven-county region unanimously adopted GO TO 2040, metropolitan Chicago's first comprehensive regional plan in over 100 years. To address anticipated population growth of more than 2 million new residents, GO TO 2040 establishes coordinated strategies that help the region's 284 communities address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) developed and now guides implementation of the plan with its many partners, including the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC).

CMAP has initiated an "update" of GO TO 2040 as required by MAP-21, which calls for regional plans such as this to be revised every four years.  Before the plan update draft is released for public comment during summer 2014, MPC will host a roundtable event on May 29 to discuss GO TO 2040's implementation progress to date, as well as highlights from the update. At this roundtable, regional leaders will provide their input on the role partners play in implementing GO TO 2040 recommendations. Confirmed speakers include Randy Blankenhorn, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning executive director; Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County board president; Thomas Weisner, mayor of the City of Aurora and Illinois Tollway board member; and Leanne Redden, Regional Transportation Authority acting executive director. Register on-line to attend.

During the public comment period for the draft plan update, meetings will be held throughout the region to solicit feedback from the public.  The update will then be submitted in October for adoption by the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee. While the plan's four themes (livable communities, human capital, efficient governance, and regional mobility) and 12 recommendation areas will not change, the update process allows CMAP to:

• Consider the region's transportation priorities in light of updated, robust financial analysis regarding what revenues metropolitan Chicago can expect to fund major capital projects over the coming decades. 
• Enhance the alignment of GO TO 2040 recommendations with responsible parties to reflect progress, restructuring of federal programs, and other variables since adoption.
• Reevaluate the indicators and associated targets used to measure progress on plan implementation.