Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, registration is now open for the first LTA Ideas Exchange, the release of the "Homes for a Changing Region" policy plans for West Cook communities,the April Water 2050 update is out, MetroPulse Data on local coordinated planning, and air quality attainment and Illinois Route 53/120 in the news . Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.
First Off...
Register now: LTA Ideas Exchange. Registration is now available for the first Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program
Ideas Exchange event on May 24, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition to highlighting accomplishments and lessons learned in the program's inaugural year, this special event will be an opportunity for attendees to discuss the next LTA call for projects and additional grant opportunities. Elected officials, municipal planners, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the event on the second floor of UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, Chicago.
Kane County approves 2040 Transportation Plan. On April 10, the Kane County Board approved its
2040 Transportation Plan, which will help guide county policy and programming decisions. The plan consists of a recommended roadway plan, a bicycle and pedestrian plan, and a transit plan.
Other News and Announcements
LTA updates. The "Homes for a Changing Region" policy plans for West Cook communities of Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood, and Oak Park are now available on-line. The plans provide analysis and recommendations for future housing demands and supply trends, and is a collaboration of the West Cook County Housing Collaborative, CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and Metropolitan Planning Council.
LTA in the news. The Illinois Parks & Recreation Magazine highlighted green infrastructure in Park Forest, including mention of the sustainability plan that the Village is developing with help from CMAP's LTA program.
Air quality attainment in the news. The Milwaukee Journal reported on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decision to place northeastern Illinois in non-attainment status, which will let our region continue receiving millions in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program funds. The article quotes CMAP's Don Kopec.
Water 2050 Update. Among numerous topics, our water newsletter describes several water-related LTA projects, information on updated CMAP water web pages, upcoming events, and more.
Featured case study. With water demand outpacing supply in 2003, the Village of Algonquin initiated an ambitious water conservation program that reduced peak summertime demand by 2 million gallons per day. If you know of an exemplary project for the GO TO 2040 case study library, please contact Lindsay Banks (lbanks@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8826).
IL Route 53/120 in the news. The Daily Herald ran an article and editorial about this week's Illinios Route 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council meeting, which focused on how to potentially fund the new Central Lake County Corridor. The corridor is one of GO TO 2040's five new major capital projects.
Willow Road public hearing. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a public meeting Thursday, April 19 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at New Trier High School (7 Happ Road, Northfield) to provide information on preferred improvements for Willow Road from Illinois Route 43/Waukegan Road to I-94/ Edens Expressway. This proposal will affect the communities of Northfield, Northbrook, Glenview, and Winnetka.
Lake County ITS. Sen. Dick Durbin is featured in a new video highlighting his recent visit to the high-tech PASSAGE facility, where the Lake County Division of Transportation uses intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to monitor traffic and provide real-time information to travelers.
ULI Vision Awards finalists. GO TO 2040 is one of the program finalists for the Chicago Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Vision Awards. Winners will be announced at an event on June 6.
Design challenge contest. Design Makes Change will host the second annual “Sweet Homes Chicago: The Neighborhood Preservation Design Challenge,” a contest for a design or plan to address housing foreclosure concerns in City of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Submissions are due August 15.
Data Depot
Local coordinated planning. CMAP’s MetroPulse data portal tracks the number of municipalities that post Building Permit Data on-line. Increased on-line data sharing will help overcome the difficulty of coordinating the responsibilities of our region’s many government jurisdictions. The recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study of the tri-state region observes that the Chicago region compares with Paris in hosting thousands of distinct, but overlapping governmental units. By comparison, metropolitan Toronto is consolidated into just 28 local units.
County crime rates. Serious crimes are used nationally as the standard base for comparison because, as pointed out in the 2007 Illinois Uniform Crime Report, they are more likely to be reported than lesser offenses are. See a MetroPulse map of index crime rate (per 100,000 people) by county from 2003 to 2007.
CMAP Blogs
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog featured the publication of TRB’s Transportation Research Record annual volume dedicated to studies related to pedestrian planning and safety. We also posted a video describing and demonstrating Volvo Car Corporation’s pedestrian airbag, which deploys across the windshield in the event the car hitting a pedestrian.
Green Signals. CMAP’s transportation operations blog told readers about a webinar about social media during weather events.
Reminders
Energy volunteers needed. Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) is seeking Impact Team leaders and members to help spread the word about EI2 in their neighborhoods to help make homes energy efficient. Volunteers would help host neighborhood events, connect EI2 with local organizations, and be a face for EI2 at community events. For more information, contact Anna Markowski at CNT Energy (amarkowski@cntenergy.org or 773-328-7045) or sign up on-line.
APA National Conference. The American Planning Association (APA) will host their 2012 national conference from April 14 to 17 in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, CMAP's John O'Neal will speak about "Compete Streets Implementation in Chicago."
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. For more information, contact Ricardo Lopez (rlopez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8766).
ITEP applications. The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking proposals for the 2012 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). Approximately $50 million is available for projects. Proposals are due May 29, 2012.
Events
Blue Island open house
April 16, 2012
4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
City Hall East Annex: 2434 Vermont Street, Blue Island
Hosted by the City of Blue Island and CMAP
More information
Lakemoor planning meeting
April 19, 2012
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Lakemoor Public Works: 333 Wegner Road, Lakemoor
Hosted by the Village of Lakemoor and CMAP
More information
Transportation Conformity Workshops
April 24 to 26, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CMAP: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago
Hosted by the National Transit Institute
More information
20th Congress for the New Urbanism
May 9 to 12, 2012
West Palm Beach, FL
More information
Bronzeville Retail Development Initiative planning meeting
May 12, 2012
8:30 a.m. to noon
Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center: 4859 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
Hosted by the Bronzeville Alliance, CMAP, and the Metropolitan Planning Council
More information
County Green
May 17, 2012
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
College of Lake County: 19351 W. Washington Street, Building C, Grayslake
More information
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
