First Off...

CMAP meetings.  The CMAP Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. next Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

Housing Policy Updates.  Today we posted the first in an on-going series of housing analyses in our Policy Updates blog.  It looks at data for the first half of 2012, which shows that --  after several years of mostly negative housing news -- the region is seeing some positive trends even as communities continue to struggle with effects of the national downturn in housing markets. 

CMAP in the news. A Courier-News story about the City of Elgin’s workforce includes data from our Industry Clusters regional snapshot.  The Chicago Sun-Times used CMAP analysis of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) data to examine the rate of bike crashes in Chicago over the past decade and the number of pedestrian crashes in a South Side Chicago corridor.  TribLocal covered progress in the Village of Tinley Park's plans for a proposed roundabout, which is funded in part by our Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program.

Other News and Announcements

Pedestrian plan.  On Thursday, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation released its first pedestrian safety plan. Read more in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, and DC Streetsblog. 

LTA in the news. The Daily Herald described the Village of Antioch's lifestyle corridor plan to coordinate greenways with nearby land use and environmental features, developed through our Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program. The article quotes CMAP’s Jason Navota. A summary of current LTA projects is also available.

Scenario planning program. The Federal Highway Administration's new scenario planning program features a cover image from GO TO 2040.

Projects and obligations report. Required under federal law, the 2011 Regional Project Award and Obligation Report for Northeastern Illinois describes expenditures of federal and other significant non-federal capital funds. The report has been enhanced to illustrate implementation of GO TO 2040, which prioritizes maintenance and modernization of the existing system. The background data is also available. Contact Holly Ostdick (hostdick@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8836).

Featured case study. Understanding the value of diverse housing stock, St. Charles officials addressed their shortage of moderately-priced housing by enacting local ordinances and implementing various programs, such as their employer-assisted housing program. If you know an exemplary project for the GO TO 2040 case study library, please contact Lindsay Bayley (312-386-8826) or submit it on-line.

Logistics industry boom. This week, Crain’s Chicago Business examined the logistics industry's growth due to higher demand for arranging freight shipments. Our recent freight “drill-down” report explores how an increase in freight has an economic “multiplier effect” on logistics and other industries.

MPC roundtables. The Metropolitan Planning Council will host "Getting Our Money's Worth: Using Value Capture to Fund Transit" on September 11 and "Regional Approaches for Stormwater Management" on September 13.  Each is from noon to 1:30 p.m. Registration includes lunch and is $15 for MPC donors/Openlands members, or $30 for others.

Reinventing Chicago. On October 4 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., the Center for Neighborhood Technology will host “Reinventing Chicago: What’s Technology Got to Do with It?” at Red Frog Events (320 West Ohio Street, Chicago). A featured panel and small group discussions will look at sustainable development and technology. Reserve tickets by October 1.

Rail corridor meetings. The Indiana Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, will host public meetings in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan for evaluation of passenger rail improvements between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac. The Illinois meeting will be held at Union Station (500 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago) on September 12 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A self-guided on-line scoping meeting opens today and ends October 15.

CMAP Blogs

Soles and Spokes.This week, CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog featured a recent study assessing the effectiveness of laws existing in at least twelve states -- including Illinois -- which require motor vehicles to pass bicyclists at a distance of three feet or more.

Green Signals. CMAP’s transportation operations blog highlighted the Cook-DuPage smart corridor project.

Reminders

Freight talk.  I will give a presentation on CMAP's freight work from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on September 13, 2012, as part of the Great Cities Institute's Real-Time Chicago Seminar Series. RSVP at gcities@uic.edu.

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.

FLIP applications.  Applications are available for our Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program, through which 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).

Events

Real-Time Chicago Seminar Series
September 13, 2012
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Great Cities Institute: 412 S. Peoria Street, 4th Floor
Hosted by the University of Illinois at Chicago's Great Cities Institute
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