Posted on February 18, 2011 2:16 PM
February 18, 2011
Table of Contents
First Off...
U.S. Census releases Illinois data. The U.S. Census has posted new Illinois redistricting data from the 2010 census. See the main CMAP census page for interactive visualizations and a comparison of 2010 data with 2000 and 1990. Our region's largest county is Cook with a population of 5,194,675, a decrease of 3.4 percent since 2000. Changes in other counties include DuPage with a population of 916,924 (increase of 1.4 percent), Lake with 703,462 (increase of 9.2 percent), Will with 677,560 (increase of 34.9 percent), Kane with 515,269 (increase of 27.5 percent), Kendall with 114,736 (increase of 110.4 percent), and McHenry with 308,760 (increase of 18.7 percent). CMAP's Policy Updates blog also featured a brief analysis of the new data. Read more in related news coverage by Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, USA Today, and Bloomberg. All day Monday, WDCB 90.9 FM will air segments of an interview I did with them.
Events
GO TO 2040 series at MPC. Thanks to everyone who made it to today's GO TO 2040 roundtable, "We Have a Plan. Who's With Us?", hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC). The next forum in the series, "We have a Plan. What Do We Need?", will be held on March 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the MPC Conference Center 140 S. Dearborn, Suite 1400 Chicago, Illinois 60603.
CMAP Planning Commissioner Workshops. Our re-designed and updated workshops give local volunteer planning commission members an opportunity to learn about the role of planning commission members, Illinois planning law (in easy-to-understand terms), and the content/purpose of comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. Details about workshop locations, dates, agendas, and registration are available on-line. Registration costs $25 and includes continental breakfast and copies of Now That You’re On Board, A Handbook of Planning Law Principles and Practices, and Revised Planning 1-2-3. Register online or contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn (312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov).
GO TO 2040 luncheon. On March 14, the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on GO TO 2040 as part of its Regional Consensus Luncheon Series. CMAP Board member President Rick Reinbold of Richton Park and I will be on the panel with Will County executive Lawrence M. Walsh. The event will be 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Tinley Park Convention Center. Registration deadline is March 10.
Other News and Announcements
More CMAP in the news. The planning news website UrbDeZine featured an article on GO TO 2040 this week. Also, the Tribune has positive comments about the CMAQ-funded Navy Pier Flyover project that will make it easier, safer, and more enjoyable to walk and bike that part of the lakefront. The project received approval from the Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday, and construction can begin as early as spring 2012.
Media tip sheet. Today, CMAP issued its latest media tip sheet, which included information on Census 2010 redistricting data for Illinois, the report Economic Impacts of GO TO 2040, Fox River Basin watershed plans that aim to protect groundwater, and CMAP's allocation of federal funding to reduce diesel emissions.
CMAP Blogs
Green Signals. This week, CMAP’s transportation operations blog informed readers about an upcoming roundabouts webinar hosted by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The webinar will discuss the findings of National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 672:Roundabouts: An Informational Guide – Second Edition. The blog also highlighted the Traffic Signal Library and Forum. This site will provide transportation professionals and the public a place to research and learn about traffic signal management and operations, safety, and maintenance.
Soles and Spokes. This week, CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog directed readers to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists on ways to advocate and design for accommodation of bicycles on bridges -- a critical element in making functional city and region-wide bikeway networks. We also wrote about the City of Chicago’s efforts to study and implement a road diet along Lawrence Avenue. The blog also alerted readers to an upcoming PBIC webinar on the many tools and resources the Federal Highway Administration has for pedestrian and bicycle professionals to use.
Policy Updates. This week, CMAP's policy blog featured a free data visualization tool, in addition to the census update mentioned above.
Reminders
Liquid Assets documentary. On February 24, CMAP will co-host a viewing of the documentary Liquid Assets with the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Liquid Assets is a 90-minute documentary created by Penn State University and funded by ASCE as a public media and outreach initiative that seeks to inform the nation about the critical role that our water infrastructure plays in protecting public health and promoting economic prosperity. Prior to the screening, Darren Olson, the current Illinois Section ASCE President, will begin the evening with an ASCE Infrastructure Report Card review. Registration is free and limited to the first 100 people to register with Katie Owens at owens.katharine@epa.gov. The event will be held at CMAP offices at 5:30 p.m.
CMAQ pre-application workshop. Two pre-application workshops will be held for applicants to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ). CMAP will host the first at our offices on February 24, 2011, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Reservations are required by February 22. The West Central Municipal Conference will host the second workshop on March 3 at 9:45 a.m. in the LaGrange Village Hall.
Transport Chicago. The 2011 Transport Chicago Steering Committee issued a Call for Papers for the annual conference, to be held on June 3. All abstracts must be submitted electronically by March 4 to abstracts@transportchicago.org.
~*~
Subscribe to receive Weekly Updates via email. 
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
