Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, an article on a St. Charles bridge project funded by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement program, Invent the Future is featured in a case study from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, a WTTW special on the history of the Chicago Loop, and reminder for TIP comment period. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.
First Off...
CMAQ in the news. St. Charles is using $1.9 million from the FY2012-16 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) to help fund a bridge project. Read more about the bridge project in the Daily Herald. To learn about CMAQ, read more in this CMAP press release (along with lists of projects by county).
LTA projects. CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program is helping the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation (CSEDC), and the Chicago Southland Housing and Community Development Collaborative to create a housing investment tool. The tool is designed to help the Collaborative, with support from the SSMMA and CSEDC, to prioritize funding for proposed housing projects. The Bronzeville Alliance is also working with the LTA program to develop a retail development initiative (RDI) to help plan for the neighborhood’s land use and retail development.
Other News and Announcements
ITF case study. The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently featured
Invent the Future, an important period of public input for GO TO 2040, as a
case study in its Hear Every Voice stakeholder participation resource tool.
Staff progress report. Our first-quarter
progress report (July through September) based on CMAP's FY12
work plan is now available online.
CTA cars in service. See an informal
video capturing the day when the first of the CTA's new 5000-series rail cars was put to use. As several riders point out, this is a fine example of modernization improves the system and the user's experience.
Emerald Ash Borer management grants. Applications for the third round of the Illinois Urban Forest Restoration and Technical Assistance Grants for Emerald Ash Borer management are due January 20, 2012. Emerald Ash Borer is considered one of the greatest and costliest threats to the "urban canopy," depriving communities of trees that provide shade and valuable ecosystem services. Visit the
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus website for more information, including upcoming grant workshops and webinars.
Strategic Regional Arterial study reports. The Illinois Department of Transportation has posted each
Strategic Regional Arterial study report on-line.
New certificate in sustainability law. The John Marshall Law School will now
offer a J.D. certificate in Sustainability Law through the school’s Center for Real Estate Law. The
new certificate is a result of the Center’s Sustainability Initiative started in academic year 2009-10 that added courses addressing sustainability issues.
Communicating climate change. ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability has published a set of five
guidelines that help local governments communicate the importance of planning to address the anticipated impacts of climate change.
CMAP Blogs
Policy Updates. In case you missed it, we posted a thorough analysis of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) highway reauthorization bill in a two-part series on our Policy Updates blog. The series highlights CMAP's concerns and overall position on MAP-21 using the five transportation reauthorization principles CMAP published two years ago.
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog featured an article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, which quantifies the health benefits of replacing automobiles for short urban and suburban trips with bicycles. We also highlighted the release of NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide as a free, downloadable PDF document.
Reminders
TIP comment period. An amendment to the FFY 2010-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and conformity analysis for GO TO 2040 and the TIP is released for public comment through December 2, 2011. Conformity analysis is part of the transportation modeling process that evaluates the impact of projects on air quality. Read more in an explanatory memo. Send written comments to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, ATTN TIP amendments, Suite 800, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60606. Comments can also be made via e-mail or phone (312-386-8780).
GIS workshops. CMAP offers a low-cost, introductory, hands-on ArcGIS 10 workshop. The next two-day sessions will be January 25 to 26, March 7 to 8, April 18 to 19, and May 30 to 31.Cost is $350 per person, which includes a manual. Please contact Jan Drennan (312-386-8686 or jdrennan@cmap.illinois.gov) or David Clark (312-386-8682 or dcclark@cmap.illinois.gov).
Loop walking tour. WTTW has posted a preview of Geoffrey Baer's upcoming special, “Chicago’s Loop: A New Walking Tour," which will have its premiere on November 29 at 7:30 p.m. The program traces "the history of downtown Chicago’s rise, fall, and rebirth." Among the tour stops is a segment about Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, which is home to the CMAP offices. Visit www.wttw.com/loop to learn more, and in case you missed it, be sure to see Geoffrey's "Biking the Boulevards."
Events
Park Forest Planning Meeting
November 30, 2011
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Green Banquet Hall: 394 Main Street, Park Forest
Hosted by the Village of Park Forest and CMAP
More information
Sustainable Water-Centric Communities workshop
December 5 to 6, 2011
Plankinton Building: 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
Hosted by the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee School of Continuing Education
More information
Improving Health Through Planning
December 7, 2011
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
MPC Offices: 140 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 1400, Chicago
Hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council, Institute on Social Exclusion at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, and the Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities
More information
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
