Table of Contents

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

First Off...

Transportation reauthorization.  Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a transportation reauthorization proposal, which would authorize approximately $230 billion from the Highway Trust Fund for highway, transit, and highway safety programs over a six-year period.  See more in our Policy Updates blog.

Universal fare cards.  Yesterday Governor Quinn signed HB 3597, requiring a universal fare card by 2015 for CTA, Metra, and Pace.  Among other provisions, the legislation calls for an RTA study of the feasibility of installing wireless Internet for transit riders.

Other News and Announcements

Media tip sheet.  On Wednesday, CMAP issued its latest media tip sheet, with information on the community kickoff meetings for several Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program projects, GO TO 2040 capital project blog posts on our Policy Updates blog, the latest video entry in our series of resident portraits, and more.

ICMA Case Study.  The International City/County Management Association featured GO TO 2040 as a best practices case study.

New information system.  Illinois is planning a new and integrated health and human services system, known as the Framework, to improve efficiencies and outcomes of the seven state agencies that deliver health and human services.  The project implementers are seeking stakeholder involvement through a series of town hall conversations to help shape and inform the new information system that will serve service recipients and service providers.

Local Food Systems and Brownfields Redevelopment.  On July 19, 2011, join the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals and the Brownfield Communities Network for a webinar from noon to 1:30 p.m. to learn about the best new initiatives across the country and how some of them fit into job training goals for local governments. Experts will provide an overview of urban agriculture resources for brownfield programs, along with best management practices and examples. Register on-line.

CMAP Blogs

Green Signals.  CMAP’s transportation operations blog notified readers about the upcoming Traffic Incident Management Performance Metrics webinar sponsored by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  The webinar will introduce and demonstrate the national Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Performance Measurement Database.

Soles and Spokes.  CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog highlighted a new report, “Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practices (Workshop Edition 2010),” which covers the state-of-the-practice for the design, installation, and operation of APS.  We also announced the related upcoming Easter Seals ProjectACTION webinar, in which participants will present the information in and findings of the report.  Finally, we wrote about a national, on-line walking survey.

Reminders

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 Local Technical Assistance 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

Park Forest Planning Kickoff
July 12 and 14, 2011
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Dining on the Green Banquet Hall:  349 Main Street, Park Forest
Hosted by the Village of Park Forest and CMAP
More information

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

PASCAL 2011
October 3 to 5, 2011
Naperville
Hosted by Northern Illinois University
More Information