Table of Contents

• First Off . . .
• Other News and Announcements
• CMAP Blogs
• Reminders
• Events

First Off...

LTA overview video.  This week, CMAP released the first video in a series highlighting CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program.  This video overview of LTA highlights several projects in the program, which is sponsored by a three-year $4.25 million HUD Sustainable Communities grant.  The grant supports CMAP staff assistance for local governments, nonprofits, and other organizations to help implement the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan.  The video has already garnered a fair amount of attention here in the region (through various TribLocal and Patch sites, Blue Island's Community Development blog, the Windy Citizen, and Paper.li).  Throughout the next year, we’ll be producing more videos that will offer in-depth views at some of our current LTA projects.

Growing Green in Park Forest.  As described in eNews Park Forest, on Tuesday, July 12, the Village of Park Forest -- with help from CMAP LTA staff -- hosted a Young Adults Event as part of its "Growing Green" sustainability planning campaign.  Held at Dining on the Green Banquet Hall, this interactive session engaged 120 residents between the ages of 10 and 25, who made their views about the future known and learned about "the 3 E's" (environment, economy, and equity).  A second public meeting for Park Forest residents of all ages was held on Thursday, July 14.  Read more in CMAP's Moving Forward webspace.

MetroPulse 1.1 released today.  CMAP and The Chicago Community Trust have made significant improvements to the usability of MetroPulse.  Now users have the ability to bookmark custom tables, graphs and maps. They can also access all three by clicking on any of the tiles on the homepage dashboard.  Simply visit the website, click any of those tiles and click the star icon to create a custom URL.  Then switch the view by toggling between the graph, table or map icons to the left of the star icon.

Bike to Work Week. CMAP is a proud repeat winner -- four years straight, and five of the last six -- in the Active Transportation Alliance Bike to Work Week challenge.  This year we moved up to the category for public agencies with 100 to 499 employees, after having competed previously in the category for 25 to 99 employees. Thanks to all who participated by bicycling for part of their commute.
 

Other News and Announcements

Capital bill upheld.  On Monday, as you most likely have heard, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state capital bill's constitutionality.  This important ruling allows Illinois capital programs to continue to move forward, improving our vital infrastructure and creating jobs for our residents. 

EI2 in the news.  This week Crain's covered the announcement that Energy Impact Illinois has awarded $1 million to IFF, a nonprofit lender and real estate consultant, to identify, finance, and manage energy efficiency improvements to nonprofit facilities in the Chicago region.

GIS workshops.  CMAP offers a low-cost, introductory, hands-on ArcGIS 10 workshop.  The next two-day sessions will be September 21-22, October 26-27, and November 30 to December 1, 2011.  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).

Transportation event.  On July 19, Northwestern University Transportation Center will host an event from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. featuring transportation journalist Don Phillips, on the topic "Government: Is it Helping or Hurting Planes, Trains & Trucks?"

Northwest Suburban Housing Collaborative Position.  The Northwest Suburban Housing Collaborative, with funding from The Chicago Community Trust, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a housing coordinator position.  While supporting the Collaborative in its work with CMAP's LTA program, the coordinator will be involved in the Homes for a Changing Region project.  For more information, see the Metropolitan Planning Council’s blog, The Connector.  Proposals are due July 29, 2011.

Promoting Electric Cars.  Governor Quinn signed two bills that focus on development of the electric car industry, including creation of incentive grants and an advisory council.

Foresight @ CMAP. The Foresight Design Initiative shares what they learned about GO TO 2040 from a recent presentation by CMAP staff.
 

CMAP Blogs

Policy Updates.  We explored the state sales tax in Illinois, the changing consumption patterns in the U.S., as well as several implications of broadening the sales tax base to include some services in a recent analysis.  We also featured an article from Bill Testa's Midwest Economy blog that discusses how Chicago's economic core has strengthened despite population decline.

Green Signals.  In our transportation operations blog, readers learned about the Effect of Traffic Probe Data on Traffic Signal Operations, a fact sheet and overview of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) cooperation between probe vehicles and traffic signals.

Soles and Spokes.  CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog reported on our state’s “Share the Road” license plates, fees from which will benefit the League of Illinois Bicyclists.  We also featured the upcoming Safe Routes to School bike parking, storage, and security webinar sponsored the locally owned SRAM Corporation's Cycling Fund.  And finally, we highlighted the new reports summarizing comments submitted to the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Women’s Cycling Survey.
 

Reminders

Municipal Plans for Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reductions.  On August 3, CMAP, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and the ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Midwest Regional Office invite local Midwest government staff to attend a training session on the basics of greenhouse gas emissions inventories and forecasting.  The session will be led by ICLEI’s experts and your municipal peers from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at CMAP offices (233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800,Chicago).  The event is free for ICLEI members, and $50 for all others.  Breakfast and lunch will be served.  Register now.  For more information, contact Meagan Chuckran (meagan.chuckran@iclei.org or 312-377-6675).

Draft Municipal Directory.  CMAP's updated draft Municipal Directory is available for download.  We would appreciate feedback from municipalities, including corrections if needed.  The final version will be posted later this summer.  Please contact Sherry Kane (skane@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8600).

Apply for FLIP.  The 2011-2012 FLIP (Future Leaders in Planning) application is available.  Please share materials with local high school students who would like to learn about planning and contribute to a better future for our region.  Keep up with FLIP at its Facebook page.

Case study library.  CMAP is building a searchable web database of completed local projects that reflect recommendations of the GO TO 2040 plan.  If you know of an exemplary project that should be included, please contact Lindsay Banks (lbanks@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8826).

HUD Preferred Sustainability Status.  CMAP’s successful application for a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant, which supports the LTA program, has also given our region “Preferred Sustainability Status.” This means that for certain competitive programs, HUD will award bonus points to applications from our region that further the goals of GO TO 2040 and federal livability principles. For more details, please see this CMAP fact sheet.

Events

Local Food Systems and Brownfields Redevelopment webinar
July 19, 2011
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Hosted by the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals and the Brownfield Communities Network
Registration

Building a Sustainable Community Roundtable
July 27, 2011
8:00 a.m. to noon
V3Companies: 7325 Janes Avenue, Woodridge
Hosted by West Suburban Branch of the U.S. Green Building Council's Illinois Chapter, CMAP, Farr Associates, and the Congress for New Urbanism
Registration

Planning Local Food Production for Healthier Communities
July 27, 2011
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CMAP Offices: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago
Hosted by the Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities at the University of Illinois - Chicago
Register by July 20

Municipal Plans for Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reductions
August 3, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CMAP Offices: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago
Hosted by CMAP, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Midwest Regional Office
Registration