Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, a U.S. Senate committee passed a brief extension of the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill, the CMAP Local Technical Assistance program is in the news, the Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) deadline is extended to September 16, and a significant Water 2050 implementation step has been taken. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by email.
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Transportation legislation. The Senate Environment and Public Works committee passed a four-month extension of SAFETEA-LU this week, continuing funding at the current $43 billion level. Read more in the CMAP Policy Updates blog. The Senate proposal would extend current highway programs through January 31, 2012. President Obama's speech last night highlighted his proposal to create a national infrastructure bank, a topic covered in a previous Policy Update. We are closely monitoring the situation in Congress, where some are hopeful that a new transportation bill may now get traction. CMAP's principles on this vitally important topic have been consistent since they were approved by our Board exactly two years ago today.
Other News and Announcements
LTA in the news. The City of Joliet kicked off the work of creating a redevelopment plan for the Old Joliet Prison and U.S. Steel sites with public meetings to solicit feedback this week. Read more about Thursday's meeting in an article from the Herald-News, which quotes CMAP planner Pete Saunders. Columnist Felicia Dechter of the Oak Leaves wrote about ongoing interactive workshops being held by the Homes for a Changing Region project in the west Cook County communities of Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood, and Oak Park to begin creating collective visions for future housing.
CMAP on TV. Please remember that CMAP board chairman Mayor Gerald Bennett will appear beginning September 12 on Comcast's Newsmakers, which airs on CNN Headline News at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour. At 8:30 p.m. on September 15, CMAP's Ricardo Lopez will be on the CAN-TV (channel 21) Spanish-language edition of Perspectivas Latinas discussing CMAP, GO TO 2040, and the Local Technical Assistance program.
Innovation metrics. The new Illinois Innovation Index provides analysis and insights on business development and economic activity in our state. Each month, it will feature innovation metrics, along with news and statistical insights. Periodically, these metrics will be aggregated into a comprehensive Illinois Innovation Index report. Upcoming topics include venture capital, Illinois Entrepreneurial Survey results, employment and output by cluster, research and development, and new business starts. The index is a collaboration of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, World Business Chicago, and CMAP, with additional support provided by the Illinois Innovation Council. Sign up on-line to receive the monthly email.
Water planning progress. One of the major recommendations of Water 2050, the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/ Demand Plan, is for municipalities and counties to work more cooperatively to plan and manage for our water supply. The Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA), a combination of five councils of governments and five county governments representing 80 municipalities in Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and DeKalb Counties, is working to do just that. The Alliance's first two projects include work with the Illinois State Water Survey and water utility operators to measure water levels in deep aquifers, as well as on the Water 2050 bill insert library. To learn more, read this fact sheet or contact Mary Randle (mrandle@metrowestcog.org or 630-859-1331).
SouthSuburbanAtlas. The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), in conjunction with Cook and Will Counties, will roll out a web-based GIS mapping application by the end 2011. The goal is to create a GIS consortium that will provide municipalities with up to date, accurate information pertaining to housing, planning, economic development, and infrastructure. The SouthSuburbanAtlas is a contributing factor to Cook County’s larger open data initiative to streamline information sharing throughout the county. Additionally, SSMMA will work with CMAP to provide regional analysis through MetroPulse with area-specific GIS capabilities through SouthSuburbanAtlas. For more information, please contact Mike Rizzitiello.
A4MC hackathon. Google Chicago and Apps 4 Metro Chicago (A4MC) will host a hackathon tomorrow at 20 West Kinzie in Chicago from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. around entries for the A4MC Community and Grant Challenge rounds.
DEADLINE EXTENDED: FLIP applications due 9/16. The deadline for Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) applications has been extended to Friday, September 16. Applicants must submit basic information, a brief essay, and a short recommendation form from an adult. Through FLIP, high school students from around the region meet one Saturday a month and go behind the scenes to learn about what keeps our region strong, safe, healthy, and moving. On Saturday, September 24, there will be a parents orientation for the 2011-2012 FLIP session at CMAP. For more information, contact Ricardo Lopez (rlopez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8766).
DEADLINE EXTENDED: HUD planning grants due 9/16. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) extended the deadline for this year’s Community Challenge Planning Grant Program to September 16, due to Hurricane Irene. CMAP asks communities that apply to let us know by contacting Stephen Ostrander (sostrander@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8696).
De-icing workshop. On October 11, Lake County Stormwater Management and others will host a de-icing workshop on sensible salting practices for sidewalks, parking lots, and roads. Participants may take a voluntary test after the training to be added to Lake County's Preferred De-Icing Providers list. Registration must be received by October 3.
CMAP Blogs
Policy Updates. In addition to the item about SAFETEA-LU, our policy blog described the Illinois Tollway's federal funding to study the integration of transit with managed lanes on I-90, including the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Managed lanes on I-90 are a GO TO 2040 priority project with broad regional support. We also wrote about a new study commissioned by HUD to develop a national index for Housing and Transportation (H+T) Affordability. This will build on the Center for Neighborhood Technology's prior analysis of H+T Affordability in 337 metro areas.
Green Signals. CMAP’s transportation operations blog informed readers of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) road pricing workshop.
Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog announced an upcoming public meeting for design development of the Bloomingdale Trail -- one of the projects recommended for funding in the 2012-16 CMAQ program. We also announced an upcoming Safe Routes to School (SRTS) webinar on the funding, organization, and maintenance of bicycle fleets for use in schools’ traffic safety classes. Finally, we featured a new report on the selection process for SRTS projects in five state DOTs.
Reminders
Case study library. CMAP has created a searchable web database with interactive map of 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.
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).
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 14: Hilton Lisle/Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle
September 20: South Holland Community Center, 501 E. 170th Street, South Holland
September 21: Holiday Inn, 800 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake
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
Events
Urban Tree Growth International Meeting and Research Symposium
September 12 to 13, 2011
The Morton Arboretum: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
More information
Midwest Clean Tech 2011
September 14, 2011
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: 230 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago
Hosted by the Global Midwest Alliance
Registration
Homes for a Changing Region -- Berwyn
September 14, 2011
6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Proska Park: 3001 S. Wisconsin Avenue, Berwyn
Hosted by MMC, CMAP, MPC
More information
Elmwood Park Planning Meeting
September 15, 2011
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Recreation Center Gym: 2 Conti Parkway, Elmwood Park
Hosted by the Village of Elmwood Park, CMAP
More information
Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors Planning Commissioner Workshop
September 17 and October 1, 2011
8:30 a.m. to noon
Kane County Government Center Auditorium (Building A): 719S. Batavia Avenue, Geneva
More information
Understanding the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System
September 19, 2011
Merchandise Mart Conference Center: 350 W. Mart Center, 2nd Floor, Chicago
Hosted by the U.S. Green Buildings Council - Illinois Chapter
Registration
Homes for a Changing Region -- Bellwood
September 19, 2011
6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Village Hall Community Room: 3200 Washington Boulevard, Bellwood
Hosted by MMC, CMAP, MPC
More information
Building Cities, Building Futures
September 20, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago: 160 E. Pearson Street, Chicago
Hosted by National League of Cities, CMAP, MPC
More information
Homes for a Changing Region -- Forest Park
September 20, 2011
6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Howard Mohr Community Center: 7640 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park
Hosted by MMC, CMAP, MPC
More information
Design on the Edge: Chicago Architects Reimagine Neighborhoods
September 23, 2011
Santa Fe Building: 224 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Hosted by Chicago Architecture Foundation
More information
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
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
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
Blogs (Weekly Updates) 
