Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn,  approximately 600 data sets have been added to the MetroPulse website, a slideshow of photos and news on LTA public kickoff meetings, the City of Chicago plans for a new bike-sharing program, and a Policy Update blog post on state legislation supporting rainwater and stormwater efficiencies. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.

              
Table of Contents

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

First Off...

American Community Survey data update to MetroPulse. CMAP is proud to announce that approximately 600 data sets have been updated on the MetroPulse website. This data primarily describes housing, social and economic conditions. The update also adds much more information about Chicago’s 77 Community Areas. On our YouTube channel, you can watch a brief demonstration or a more in-depth demonstration. MetroPulse is a product of the Regional Indicators Project, a collaboration between CMAP and The Chicago Community Trust. To keep your finger on the MetroPulse, make sure you visit the Facebook page and click “like.” You can also follow us on Twitter (@MetroPulseChi) and download the iPhone app.

Cook County data launch.  This week, Cook County launched its Open Data website with more than 75 data sets from over 40 county government departments.  The website is intended to improve transparency and accountability of Cook County government, while also providing valuable data resources to the public for civic and other initiatives.  Read more about the data portal, as well as similar efforts by the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, in our Policy Updates blog.
 

Other News and Announcements

LTA in the news.  The Elm Leaves created a photo slideshow from last week’s public kickoff meeting for comprehensive planning in Elmwood Park.  The Daily Herald also wrote about the second Campton Hills planning meeting, to be held September 26, to develop the village's first comprehensive plan.

Bicycle sharing.  The Trib's Jon Hilkevitch wrote about City of Chicago plans to make 3,000 bicycles available for sharing at 300 self-service locations.  The project is part of the proposed FY2012-16 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) administered by CMAP, which will allocate more than $411 million in federal funds, subject to approval next month by the Board and MPO Policy Committee.

BRT "gold standard."  WBEZ featured comments by former Bogota mayor Enrique Peñalosa about what we could learn from his city's successes with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).  The audio is from the recent Metropolitan Planning Council event on BRT.

Riverside water project.  Following public feedback and careful study by Village of Riverside, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the village board this week approved a major water and ecosystem project on the Des Plaines River to remove Hofmann Dam and enhance Swan Pond Park.  Part of the Army Corps' mandate for restoring rivers to their natural flow patterns, the $7.7 million federal- and state-funded project will begin this fall and supports GO TO 2040 recommendations for improving stormwater management, parks, and open space.  Read more in a press release from the Village of Riverside.

Conservation award.  Congratulations to our many friends at Chicago Wilderness (CW) after the alliance was honored for its collaborative efforts in Washington, DC, by the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL).  An independent committee of environmental, conservation and foundation leaders selected CW and the Conservation Trust of North Carolina.  

Winter snow and ice workshop.  On October 13 and 14, McHenry County will host a workshop on sensible salting practices for dealing with snow and ice.  Calibration training will be provided by the McHenry County Department of Transportation and Tovar Snow Professionals.  Registration must be received by October 10.

Executive Education Program on Freight and Logistics.  From November 7 to 9, the Northwestern University Transportation Center will host its executive education program Freight Transportation and Logistics: Delivering Results in a Volatile Environment in Evanston, IL.  Decision-makers and investors in transportation and logistics will learn about the volatile global freight market and are encouraged to attend.  Register on-line. 

UIC talk. The Great Cities Institute of the University of Illinois at Chicago will host a lecture by Bill Barnes, National League of Cities director of Emerging Issues, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10.  Titled "Regionalism in a Time of Turmoil," the talk will describe a five-dimensional framework to assist decision makers and researchers alike.
 

CMAP Blogs

Policy Updates.  To better manage our demand for water, it’s important to find efficiencies through expanded uses of non-drinking quality water, such as rainwater and stormwater. Two pieces of state legislation support such efficiencies.  We also wrote about new analysis from the Brookings Institution of 2010 Census data.  Findings include that 98 percent of population growth in large metro areas between 2000 and 2010 is attributed to the non-white and Hispanic populations.

Green Signals.  CMAP’s transportation operations blog highlighted a recently released report on work zone performance measures.

Soles and Spokes.  CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog alerted readers to a Public Health Law & Policy (PHLP) webinar covering key practical and legal considerations involved in creating pedestrian-friendly streets.  We also reported on a new study assessing urban form and the provision of pedestrian infrastructure and transit service as an integrated greenhouse gas reduction strategy.
 

Reminders

IDOT FY 2013 to 2018 Highway Program public open house meetings.  The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is holding a series of open houses throughout the region to receive early input from stakeholders and the public on the development of the Multi-Year Highway Program.  All meetings will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.:

• September 27: Hilton Garden Inn, 4070 E. Main Street, St. Charles
• September 28: Henry Mansion Estate, 20 South Eastern Avenue, Joliet
• October 3: College of Lake County, 19531 W. Washington Street, Grayslake

Natural lawn care workshop.  On October 13, the Lawn to Lake collaborative program invites landscape companies, turf managers, homeowner associations, and municipalities to a Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes workshop.  It is a great way to learn how to create and implement cost-effective sustainable landscaping programs in a community.  The workshop will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus (19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake).

GIS workshops.  CMAP offers a low-cost, introductory, hands-on ArcGIS 10 workshop.  The next two-day sessions will be October 26 to 27 and November 30 to December 1, 2011.  Cost is $350 per person, which includes a manual.  Please contact Jan Drennan (jdrennan@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8686) or David Clark (dcclark@cmap.illinois.govor 312-386-8682).

Case study library.  CMAP has created 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).

Moving Forward Together.  Mercy Housing will host its annual event, Moving Forward Together, on October 19 at Swissotel in Chicago.  Purchase tickets online.

Events

West Central Municipal Conference Planning Commissioner Workshop
September 24 and November 5, 2011
8:30 a.m. to noon
Grant Park Recreation Center (East Room): 44 W. Golfview Drive, Northlake
More information

Second Campton Hills Planning Meeting
September 26, 2011
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Wasco Elementary School: 4N782 School Street, Campton Hills
Hosted by the Village of Campton Hills and CMAP
More information

Partners in Action Online Conference
September 26 to 28, 2011
Hosted by Illinois Public Health Institute
More information

Beyond the Basics: Evolution of Stormwater Best Management Practices seminar
September 29, 2011
Bobak's Signature Events: 6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge
Hosted by The Conservation Foundation
More information

Center for Neighborhood Technology 33 1/3 Anniversary
September 30, 2011
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Green Home Chicago:  213 N. Morgan Street #1D, Chicago
More information

Open Streets on State Street
October 1, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
State Street, from Lake Street to Van Buren Street
Hosted by the Chicago Loop Alliance and Active Transportation Alliance
More information

Design on Edge Discussion with Chicago's Leading Visionary Architects
October 4, 2011
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies: 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation
Registration

APA-IL Annual Conference
October 5 to 7, 2011
Evanston, IL
Hosted by the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter
More information

South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Planning Commissioner Workshop
October 8 and November 12, 2011
8:30 a.m. to noon
South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association: 1904 W. 174th Street, East Hazel Crest
More information

De-Icing Workshop
October 11, 2011
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Central Permit Facility: 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville
Hosted by Lake County Stormwater Management
Registration due October 3

Future Shock:  Preparing for Capacity Issues in the Transportation Industry seminar
October 11,2011
7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Hamburger University:  McDonald's Campus, Oakbrook  
Hosted by Highroad Consulting
More Information

Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes workshop
October 13, 2011
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus: 19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake
Hosted by the Lawn to Lake collaborative program
More information

Moving Forward Together
October 19, 2011
3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Swissotel: 323 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago
Hosted by: Mercy Housing
More information