Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, a new report on how parking strategies can support livability, a Policy Update on the latest in federal transportation reauthorization, a new EI2 program and upcoming training for Impact Team volunteers, and CMAP's website features a new series of animated maps of truck travel speeds on I-90. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.
First Off...
Earth Day Summit. For a third straight year, the Illinois Tollway convened its Earth Day Summit of our region's transportation agencies this past Monday. The Tollway intends the event as a way for regional leaders to "come together to share ideas, debate options and, ultimately, attempt to reach a consensus on ways to finance multimodal transportation projects." CMAP Board vice chair Susan Campbell was among the speakers, and I moderated a panel in addition to being interviewed during the summit by WDCB radio. Read more in the Atlantic and the Daily Herald.
Parking strategies. CMAP has issued a report on "Parking Strategies to Support Livable Communities." As the report states, parking is among the largest land uses in a community, and it is a tool that municipalities can use to promote livability.
Transportation reauthorization. Negotiators from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives will meet on May 8, 2012, to reconcile their respective versions of a new surface transportation bill, H.R. 4348. Read more in our Policy Updates blog.
Yellow Line Station. Monday will be an exciting day for residents in and around Skokie as their new CTA Yellow Line station will begin operation (4:45 a.m., to be exact) at Oakton St. The Skokie Review provides historical context, complete with a mention of CATS, one of CMAP's predecessor agencies. Our CMAQ program helped to pay for the station.
Other News and Announcements
Local Technical Assistance (LTA) in the news. The
Morton Grove Champion quotes CMAP staff Nicole Woods in its story about the
LTA-supported development of an in
dustrial subarea plan for the
Village of Morton Grove. Don't forget to register for the first LTA
Ideas Exchange event on May 24, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the second floor of UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, Chicago. 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 grant opportunities -- including the next LTA call for projects, which CMAP will post in the second week of May. Elected officials, municipal planners, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
Local ordinances and toolkits. To help municipalities pursue policies aligned with GO TO 2040 recommendations, our
Local Ordinances and Toolkits program will be posting resources on the CMAP website, including a
Model Water Conservation Ordinance in addition to the
parking strategies report mentioned above.
Featured case study. The current landfill capacity of metropolitan Chicago is expected to last less than 15 years,
according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Locally based
Green Organics, Inc. has developed processes that could convert over 15,000 cubic yards of food waste here annually into valuable compost, helping to conserve landfill capacity. If you know of an exemplary project for the
GO TO 2040 case study library, please contact Lindsay Banks (312-386-8826) or submit it
on-line.
New EI2 program. Through the
Home Energy Renovations for Employees (HERE) program, employees can now make renovations and home improvements that reduce energy waste and lower utility bill costs. HERE allows employers to match employee’s energy efficiency improvement costs dollar-for-dollar up to $3,000. This program is led by the Metropolitan Planning Council through
Energy Impact Illinois (EI2), an alliance of government agencies, utility companies, and citizen advocacy groups.
EI2 volunteer training. On May 19, EI2 will host training for Impact Team volunteers at the Center for Neighborhood Technology (1741 N. Western, Chicago) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The training will include home energy efficiency 101, EI2 tools and outreach, and events for Impact Team members. Food will be provided and volunteers can RSVP
on-line.
Prospering in Place event. On May 2, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) will host an event to discuss
Prospering in Place, a report on strategies to increase location efficiency and support job creation and economic vitality in the region, at the offices of Sidley, Austin LLP (1 S. Dearborn, Chicago) from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The CNT report used GO TO 2040 as a springboard for its recommendations. Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle, Oak Park president David Pope, and CNT transportation and community development director Maria Choca Urban will speak. To RSVP, contact Kyle Smith (
ksmith@cnt.org or 773-269-4036).
Planetizen wrote about the report this week.
Woodstock reception. On May 10, the Woodstock Institute will host its 2012 Community Investment Awards reception and film screening of “The Flaw” at Instituto Cervantes of Chicago from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The film examines the roots of the financial crisis. Read more and register at
http://theflaw.eventbrite.com/.
IL Route 53/120 in the news. The Daily Herald wrote about the April 20 Illinios Route 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council meeting. The corridor is one of GO TO 2040's recommended major capital projects.
New EV incentive programs. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced two new incentive programs for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The EV charging stations rebates program will provide rebates towards installation of public, commercial, and residential Level II charging stations. The deadline for submitting rebate applications and completing projects is June 15, 2012. The EV Industry Development grants will provide up to 50 percent funding for projects that support EV and EV supply equipment production through the development or expansion of related businesses. Grant applications are due May 31, 2012.
National Public Works Week. The American Public Association of Public Works will celebrate the 2012 National Public Works Week with “Public Works: Creating a Lasting Impression” from May 20 to 26. Events and outreach focus on the importance of public works to the community and how public work professionals use sustainable methods to plan and build public works.
Green Infrastructure Grants awarded. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency awarded nearly $5 million in Green Infrastructure Grants to decrease pollution of Illinois waterways by stormwater. Funded projects in northeastern Illinois include the Villages of Franklin Park, La Grange, Schaumburg, and Glenview; the Cities of Aurora and Chicago; 21st Century Sustainable Schoolyard; the City of Chicago’s 20th ward; and Urban Juncture, Inc.
Data Depot
Truck speed animations. CMAP has prepared a series of animated maps showing truck travel speeds on portions of I-90 from April to October 2011. Data is aggregated by milepost, time of day, and day of the week. Comparing the videos reveals the variability in speed by day of week. Several I-90 segments are especially slow during Friday afternoon peak periods. As shown by recently posted Congestion Management Process data, most truck travel already occurs during off-peak hours. GO TO 2040 recommends strategies for governments and businesses to facilitate additional off-peak travel by trucks.
Arts organization revenue. CMAP’s MetroPulse data portal tracks, by county, revenue received by art and cultural organizations. It is no surprise that Cook County records the largest revenues, primarily because downtown Chicago is home to several world-class cultural attractions. All of these major arts organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Art Institute of Chicago, host extensive outreach efforts that foster arts education and audience development across the CMAP region.
Arts occupation earnings. As part of the Cultural Vitality Indicators project, users can now find average annual earnings for various artistic occupations in each of the counties on MetroPulse.
CMAP Blogs
Policy Updates. We wrote about the newly approved Chicago Infrastructure Trust, which will operate as a nonprofit corporation that pools private and institutional investment funds with grants and bond proceeds. Using these resources, the trust will provide tailored financing packages to support public infrastructure projects.
Green Signals. CMAP’s transportation operations blog told readers about a primer on applying a regional intelligent transportation system (ITS) architecture to support planning for operations.
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog announced the latest webinar in the National Center for Safe Routes to School Coaching Action Network series on how to find funding for SRTS projects. We also mentioned a funding opportunity offered by the American Heart Association for projects focused on reducing childhood obesity. Finally, we were happy to report that the League of Illinois Bicyclists won the Advocacy Award for Best Practices given each year by the Alliance for Biking and Walking.
Reminders
Elgin-O'Hare comment period. Public comments are being sought through May 14 regarding the draft environmental impact statement for the Elgin-O'Hare West Bypass, which is among the major capital projects recommended by GO TO 2040.
Chicago food plan meetings. At a series of public meetings, Chicago residents can learn and provide feedback about the City's “Healthy Food Chicago” plan. To RSVP or request special accommodations, contact info@healthyplaceschicago.org or 312-573-7786.
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).
Events
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) 
