Posted on March 09, 2012 2:16 PM
CMAP Weekly Update, 3-9-12
Highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn's Weekly Update include a web version of the Moving Forward: 2010-11 implementation report for GO TO 2040; the impending release of an international report on economic factors shaping the tri-state area of northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southwest Wisconsin; and the latest details of Local Technical Assistance projects in Joliet and Orland Park. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.
Table of Contents
CMAP Board meeting. The CMAP Board will meet next week at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Neither of the coordinating committees are scheduled to meet in March.
GO TO 2040 implementation report web page. We've created a web companion to the Moving Forward: 2010-11 report on implementation of GO TO 2040. It highlights eight projects from among dozens in the full report, including the Illinois Tollway Capital Plan, the CREATE freight partnership, a variety of livability initiatives from Kane County, as well as the Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program and Energy Impact Illinois. For copies of the report or the summary poster-brochure, please contact Hillary Green (hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8619).
Transportation reauthorization update. This week, the U.S. Senate began consideration of 30 amendments to Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), after an unsuccessful cloture vote on March 6. The Senate voted on seven amendments Thursday and will consider the remaining 23 amendments on Tuesday, March 13. It rejected amendments to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline and expand offshore oil and gas drilling. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Boehner says he is prepared to drop the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act and consider MAP-21 in its stead. Read more on our Policy Updates blog.
OECD Territorial Review. The Paris-based, international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is about to release an in-depth report on the "mega-region" that includes northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin. The study is part of OECD's series titled Territorial Reviews: Competitive Cities in the Global Economy, which uses a standard methodology to explore how globalization is shaping economic development in regions across the world. Mayor Gerald Bennett of Palos Hills, Chairman of the CMAP Board, participated in today's press conference about the report, and our agency was among organizations throughout the tri-state region that participated in its development. GO TO 2040 was an influential starting point for the team’s research and policy recommendations, and CMAP provided a large amount of data, policy guidance, and other input for the report. CMAP will post a series on our Policy Updates blog about the report once it is available online starting next week. Read more in the Daily Herald, Crain's Chicago Business, and Chicago Tribune.
Other News and Announcements
LTA updates. Through our LTA program, CMAP has partnered with the City of Joliet and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Chicago to support a ULI Chicago Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) on the Joliet Correctional Center. The redevelopment recommendations will be presented to the public on March 19 at the Joliet Historical Museum (204 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet) from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP by calling 773-549-4972 or emailing Christine Kolb. CMAP is also working with the Village of Orland Park to develop a water conservation code. The Village and CMAP will host a second public meeting on March 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Orland Park Public Library (14921 Ravinia Avenue).
Watershed meetings. CMAP and The Conservation Foundation will co-facilitate meetings of the Blackberry Creek Watershed Coalition on March 20 and the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Coalition on March 27. The meetings for these newly formed groups will focus on implementation of their recently completed watershed plans, which were drafted by CMAP with input from stakeholders. Meeting information and the watershed plans are available on the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership (FREP) website.
CMAQ in the news. The Beacon-News wrote about the upgrade of signal interconnects on Eola Road, Commons Drive, Galena Boulevard, Indian Trail, and Lake, Broadway, River, and New York Streets in Aurora. These projects are sponsored by our Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program, as is the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago that was covered today by the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois State Rail plan meeting. IDOT will host its next Illinois State Rail Plan public information meeting on March 13 at Eola Public Library (555 South Eola Road, Aurora) from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
CNU workshop. On March 15, the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) Illinois and the Chicago Loop Alliance will host Redefining Convenience at the Inland Steel Building (30 West Monroe Street, Chicago) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The workshop will address the changing definition of convenience and includes a presentation of the newly released Tactical Urbanism 2.0 by its author Mike Lydon.
Water-energy nexus survey. The Illinois Section American Water Works Association's Water Efficiency Committee has completed a statewide water utility survey to analyze water supply and energy usage data together. Many participating communities are located within the CMAP Region.
Revamped H+T index. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) expanded its Housing and Transit (H +T) Affordability Index, replacing 2000 US Census data with the American Community Survey 2009 5-year estimates, covering smaller cities and towns, and providing improved measures of travel demand and household transportation costs. CMAP uses the index as one of the tracking indicators for GO TO 2040. Read more about the index in the Chicago Tribune.
HUD partnering opportunity. CNT and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities are supporting efforts by the Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) to develop and test a Housing and Transportation Affordability (HTA) index for HUD that expands on H+T. To get involved in this project, contact Anna Cruz (acruz@manhattanstrategy.com or 202-560-5518).
Data Depot
Education data. CMAP’s MetroPulse website tracks educational attainment rates in the Chicago region. Higher levels of education increase a household’s income potential and make our region an attractive place to do business. A related MetroPulse entry tracks the rate at which degrees in science and technology fields are conferred. Careers in these fields are important to promoting innovation in the region’s research and development sectors.
Regional highway safety. A summary of highway casualty and crash data shows a substantial reduction in injuries and fatalities over the period from 2002 to 2010. This data is available in detailed tables by county and also includes information on cyclists and pedestrians data. Additional information on bicycle and pedestrian safety includes links showing concentrations and densities of crashes. Communities considering steps to improve highway safety should refer to information and guidance prepared by the Federal Highway Administration on proven countermeasures, such as roundabouts, corridor access management, and road diets.
DuPage County Green Grid. DuPage County recently launched Green Grid, available as a GIS map and free smartphone app, which highlights the many sustainable projects taking place countywide. For example, the DuPage Green Grid plots alternative fuels stations, advanced vehicle technology programs, and LEED-certified buildings. To have your sustainable project, LEED building, or alternative fuel station added to the Green Grid, email recycle@dupageco.org.
CMAP Blogs
Policy Updates. Metropolitan Chicago is one of the world’s great economic centers, but according to a draft report released last week by World Business Chicago (WBC), the region has begun in the past decade to lag behind the nation in economic growth. WBC’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs provides a stark analysis of the area’s strengths and weaknesses while laying out a blueprint for future economic growth. Read more in our Policy Updates blog.
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog announced the launch of a new Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety website with detailed information on nine countermeasures to prevent crashes that occur at intersections, involve roadway departure, and/or involve pedestrians. We also announced a webinar on pedestrian safety and accessibility at modern roundabouts.
Green Signals. CMAP’s transportation operation blog told readers about an upcoming active traffic management and weather webinar.
Reminders
Ike Planning Program. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has opened applications for the Illinois “Ike” Disaster Recovery Planning Program. CMAP encourages communities to pursue multijurisdictional applications and will offer assistance to applicants seeking to do this. Interested local governments should contact Stephen Ostrander (312-386-8696 or sostrander@cmap.illinois.gov). Applications are due March 30, 2012.
FLIP application. The 2012-13 application is now available for CMAP’s Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP). Selected high school students from around the region meet one Saturday a month and go behind the scenes to learn about what keeps our region strong, safe, healthy, and moving. Any freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in the CMAP region is eligible to apply. Please take a moment to email (or better yet, send Facebook messages to) high school students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and principals. Encourage any outspoken, involved and/or proudly geeky high school students to apply. Students are asked to submit basic contact information, a short essay, and a recommendation letter from an adult. For more information, contact Ricardo Lopez (rlopez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8766)
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
