First Off...

MetroPulse Jobs.  On Wednesday, CMAP launched MetroPulse Jobs, a powerful new web tool for professionals in economic and workforce development to understand and make connections between employers, training resources, and data for key industry clusters that shape the regional economy.  Initially emphasizing the regional freight industry, MetroPulse Jobs will later include manufacturing, biotechnology, and the green economy, each of which will be the subject of a detailed "cluster drill-down" report.  GO TO 2040 calls for CMAP and its partners to study key industry clusters and to make related data available publicly as a resource for the region.  Read more in this press release.  Crain's Chicago Business is currently featuring data from MetroPulse Jobs and CMAP's freight cluster drill-down report in a nice interactive infographic.  We will host a MetroPulse Jobs webinar on October 3 at 10:00 a.m. To participate, please email Annie Byrne (abyrne@cmap.illinois.gov).

More workforce and freight news.  Congratulations to Harper College, whose new Advanced Manufacturing program will be expanded to schools across the state thanks to $12.9 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.  Read more in the Daily Herald.  The newspaper also featured an article on freight derailments that incorporated information from our freight cluster drill-down.

Public Participation Plan.  CMAP staff, in collaboration with the agency's Citizens' Advisory Committee and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), drafted a 2012 Public Participation Plan.  Available for public comment through November 9, 2012, this is an update to CMAP's 2007 plan.  Send comments to Erin Aleman (ealeman@cmap.illinois.gov).  

Policy Updates.  The U.S. Department of Transportation launched two National On-line Dialogues on performance measures and freight policy to facilitate the implementation of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), the recently passed two-year transportation reauthorization bill.  Read more in our Policy Updates blog.  The Sustainable Cities Collective also reposted our blog entry from last week on rising fuel economy standards and their potential impacts on transportation funding. 

Other News and Announcements

LTA updates.  Suburban Life wrote about an upcoming open house for a comprehensive plan under development for the Village of Addison, as well as the upcoming adoption of a comprehensive plan for the City of Berwyn.  Both projects are part of CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program.  On September 26, the Village of New Lenox will host a public meeting for the development of a corridor implementation plan for U.S. Route 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall (1 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox).  Also on September 26, the Village of Elburn will host a visioning workshop for the update of its comprehensive plan from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Elburn Lions Club (500 S. Filmore Street, Elburn).  These two projects are funded by Community Planning Program grants through LTA.

CMAP on TV.  CAN-TV's Perspectivas Latinas show recently interviewed CMAP's Ricardo Lopez discussing GO TO 2040 implementation and  LTA.  The English language program will premier tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. on channel 21 while the Spanish language program will air on September 27 at 8:30 p.m.

Featured case study.  With help from a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Will County is turning its garbage into profit.  If you know an exemplary project for the GO TO 2040 case studies library, please contact Lindsay Bayley (312-386-8826) or submit it on-line.

CMAQ in the news.  The Northwest Herald wrote an article and editorial supporting a plan for a network of bikeways in Crystal Lake.  The project is funded in part with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program funds.

Placemaking contest.  Be sure to vote by October 5 in the Metropolitan Planning Council's Space in Between 2012 Placemaking Chicago Contest, which recognizes the most creative and interactive temporary uses of vacant space in metropolitan Chicago, northwest Indiana, and southeastern Wisconsin.

Transit-oriented development guide.  The RTA has released “Setting the Stage for Transit,” a guide to help communities create an environment that supports transit.  Information includes a “how-to” design manual for transit-supportive development, case studies, and other resources.

Chicago:  digital hub.  Crain's has a fascinating story about how metropolitan Chicago became a leading international hub for high-speed networking, and that infrastructure's importance to our regional economy.  One major driver:  Technical innovations by Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and other research institutions.  Chicago magazine also blogged about the Crain's story.

Bloomingdale Trail public meeting.  Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail and partners will host a public meeting on September 24 at 6:00 p.m.  Attendees can view the latest trail designs and discuss the integration of art into the park and trail.

CitiesAlive Conference.  The City of Chicago and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities will host the “2012 CitiesAlive Green Roof and Wall Conference” October 17-20 at the Congress Plaza Hotel (520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago).  Participants can choose from multiple registration packages.

CMAP Blogs

Soles and Spokes.  CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog featured a report on guidelines for the structural design of bicycle trail pavement and recommendations for bicycle trail pavement maintenance.  We also highlighted a new America Walks program to increase walking and walkability in communities across the country.

Reminders

FLIP deadline MONDAY.  Applications are due Monday, September 24, for our 2012-13 Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program.  High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from throughout the region meet one Saturday per month to learn about the issues that shape our region’s economy and quality of life. Contact Ricardo Lopez (rlopez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8766).

EI2 rebates.  Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) is offering rebates up to $1750 (an estimated 70-percent cost savings) for upgrades you can make to improve the comfort of your home.  To get the message out, EI2 now has 20 field staff conducting outreach throughout the region.  Keep an eye out for them, organizing house parties or community events.  For more information, contact Emily Plagman at eplagman@cmap.illinois.gov.  To see if you qualify for the rebate, please call 1-855-9-IMPACT.

Moving Forward Together.  Mercy Housing will host its annual event, Moving Forward Together, on October 2 at Swissotel in Chicago. Purchase tickets on-line.

GreenTown.  An event to help create sustainable communities, GreenTown, will be held October 18-19 in Highland Park.

Events

Nine Lakes TMDL implementation planning meeting
September 26, 2012
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Lake Barrington Shores Recreation Center:  64 Old Barn Road, Lake Barrington (map)
Hosted by the Lake Barrington Shores Homeowners Association and CMAP
More information

Addison open house
September 27, 2012
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Addison Village Hall:  1 Friendship Plaza, Addison
Hosted by the Village of Addison and CMAP
More information

Green and Healthy Neighborhoods Land Use Plan planning meeting
September 29, 2012
9:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Coppin Memorial A.M.E. Church:  5627 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Hosted by the City of Chicago, LISC/Chicago, Teamwork Englewood, Washington Park Consortium, and CMAP
More information

Evanston Green Living Festival
September 29, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Evanston Ecology Center:  2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston
Hosted by the City of Evanston
More information

Mercy Housing Annual Event: Moving Forward Together
October 2, 2012
3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Swissotel:  323 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago
More information

Antioch planning meeting
October 9, 2012
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Antioch Area Senior Center: 817 Holbeck Drive, Antioch
Hosted by the Village of Antioch and CMAP
More information