Posted on September 30, 2011 3:42 PM
CMAP Weekly Update, 9-30-11
Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, a Chicago Tribune article on major CTA transit improvements, upcoming public visioning meetings in Blue Island and Norridge, the last day for submissions to the Apps for Metro Chicago community round and a new Policy Update post on our Municipal Plans, Programs and Operations Survey. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.
Table of Contents
First Off...
CMAQ in the news. The Chicago Tribune's Jon Hilkevitch
wrote about major CTA transit improvements included in the
proposed FY 2012-2016 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ). Administered by CMAP, CMAQ will allocate more than $411 million in federal funds, subject to approval on October 12 by the Board and MPO Policy Committee. We also discussed CMAQ this week in a
Policy Updates blog on setting and meeting air quality standards.
Other News and Announcements
Blue Island and Norridge LTA public meetings. The City of Blue Island will continue the work of creating a comprehensive plan with a public visioning workshop on October 19 at MetroSouth Medical Center (12935 Gregory Street, Blue Island) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Village of Norridge will also hold a public visioning workshop for the development of its comprehensive plan on October 25 at Estelle Sieb Community Center (7774 W. Irving Park Road, Norridge) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A4MC events. The community round of Apps for Metro Chicago (A4MC) will end tonight at 11:59 p.m. On October 7, an expo of the competition’s apps held at Columbia College (916 S. Wabash, Chicago) at 3:00 p.m., where finalists will be announced. Public voting on the community apps finalists will begin immediately after the announcement.
Free IGIG workshops. The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) will host two free workshops on applying for the 2012 Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants Program for Stormwater Management (IGIG). Prospective applicants and interested parties can attend workshops on October 17 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at MPC's offices (140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400) or October 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at The Centre in Elgin (North Banquet Facility,100 Symphony Way). The grant application deadline is December 15, 2011.
Next steps for Tollway. On October 20, the Transportation Management Association of Lake Cook will host “Moving Forward with the Illinois Tollway Capital Plan and Route 53 Extension” at 10:00 a.m. at Baxter Healthcare (1 Baxter Parkway, Deerfield). Kristi Lafleur, executive director of the Illinois Tollway, will discuss the next steps of the Tollway’s $12 billion, 15-year capital plan, along with Lake County chairman David Stolman. Register online.
Urban ag resources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has produced guidelines for safe gardening practices and other urban agriculture resources. The American Planning Association also publishes resources to assist communities in food systems planning.
New energy grant program for businesses. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is now receiving applications for the Renewable Energy Business Development Program. Grants for program year 2012 will fund projects supporting the development or expansion of renewable energy production through the creation of renewable energy businesses and component manufacturers. Applications are due October 28, 2012.
CMAP Blogs
Policy Updates. Today we posted the first in a two-part series describing our Municipal Plans, Programs, and Operations Survey, results of which are important inputs to the indicators in MetroPulse.
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog highlighted a new report by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC), which evaluates the safety benefits of bike boxes recently installed throughout the City of Portland. We also featured an article from the British Medical Journal on health impacts of Barcelona's public bicycle sharing program.
Reminders
Natural lawn care workshop. On October 13, the Lawn to Lake collaborative program invites landscape companies, turf managers, homeowner associations, and municipalities to a Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes workshop. It is a great way to learn how to create and implement cost-effective sustainable landscaping programs in a community. The workshop will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus (19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake).
IDOT FY 2013 to 2018 Highway Program final public open house meeting. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is holding its final open house from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on October 3 at the College of Lake County (19531 W. Washington Street, Grayslake) to receive early input from stakeholders and the public on the development of the Multi-Year Highway Program.
Events
Open Streets on State Street
October 1, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
State Street, from Lake Street to Van Buren Street
Hosted by the Chicago Loop Alliance and Active Transportation Alliance
More information
Design on Edge Discussion with Chicago's Leading Visionary Architects
October 4, 2011
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies: 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation
Registration
APA-IL Annual Conference
October 5 to 7, 2011
Evanston, IL
Hosted by the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter
More information
South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Planning Commissioner Workshop
October 8 and November 12, 2011
8:30 a.m. to noon
South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association: 1904 W. 174th Street, East Hazel Crest
More information
Regionalism in a Time of Turmoil
October 10, 2011
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
412 S. Peoria Street, 4th Floor, Chicago
Hosted by the Great Cities Institute of the University of Illinois at Chicago
More information
De-Icing Workshop
October 11, 2011
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Central Permit Facility: 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville
Hosted by Lake County Stormwater Management
Registration due October 3
Future Shock: Preparing for Capacity Issues in the Transportation Industry seminar
October 11, 2011
7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Hamburger University: McDonald's Campus, Oakbrook
Hosted by Highroad Consulting
More Information
Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes workshop
October 13, 2011
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus: 19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake
Hosted by the Lawn to Lake collaborative program
More information
Winter Snow and Ice Workshop
October 13 or 14, 2011
8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
City of McHenry Public Works: 1415 Industrial Drive, McHenry
Hosted by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development's Division of Water Resources
More information
Moving Forward Together
October 19, 2011
3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Swissotel: 323 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago
Hosted by Mercy Housing
More information
Freight Transportation and Logistics: Delivering Results in a Volatile Environment
November 7 to 9, 2011
Chambers Hall: 600 Foster Street, Evanston
Hosted by the Northwestern University Transportation Center
More information
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
