Table of Contents

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

First Off...

GO TO 2040 in the news.  The Architect's Newspaper and Planetizen.com both highlighted the GO TO 2040 plan and CMAP's recent $4.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The Northwest Municipal Conference's Transportation Newsletter wrote about the adoption of GO TO 2040 as well.  The extension of Route 53 into Lake County, a major capital project recommended in GO TO 2040, also gained some attention in the media.  The Lake County News-Sun and Highland Park News both wrote about the project, which was discussed at a Lake-Cook Transportation Management Association meeting this week. 

TRB award.  CMAP has been selected as the winning entry for the Transportation Research Board’s 4th Annual “Communicating Concepts with John and Jane Q. Public: Sustainability and Livability” competition.  Part of the National Research Council, the TRB reviewed submissions by transportation professionals and specialists on sustainability and livability.  CMAP’s GO TO 2040 “Invent the Future” phase -- conducted in mid-2009 and featuring extensive outreach via workshops, web, kiosks, and community festivals -- was selected as the winner, followed by one runner-up and four honorable mentions.  I’ll be speaking at the TRB’s annual meeting in January, where the award will be presented.

Get a sneak peek at MetroPulse.  Space is limited, so reserve your spot now for a webinar previewing the new MetroPulse web data system.  From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 15, CMAP and The Chicago Community Trust will preview MetroPulse, which they developed together as part of the Regional Indicators Project.  To be launched on November 17, MetroPulse will provide a set of advanced data tools to facilitate local decision making and to track the region's progress in implementing GO TO 2040.

Events

NARC webinar.  On November 15 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) will host a webinar, "Successful Regional Strategies for Integrating the Aging Population into Livable Communities, Part II."  Register online.

WTTW on biking.  On November 29 at 7:30 p.m., WTTW will premiere a new program hosted by Geoffrey Baer, Biking the Boulevards.   

News and Other Announcements

Staff progress report. Our first-quarter progress report (July through September) based on CMAP's FY11 work plan is now available online.

CMAQ funds for Metra.  CMAP awarded Metra a total of $3.5 million in Congestion Management and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program funds to install GenSets on two switch engines on the Milwaukee District Line, download the application online.

Sustainable Communities resources.  Smart Growth America is building a community of organizations that have applied or plan to apply for Partnership for Sustainable Communities grants.  Join online, where a wide variety of resources are available.  The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) also blogged about CMAP's recent grant for Smart Growth America. 

CMAP Blogs

Green Signals.  This week, CMAP’s transportation operations blog, highlighted the development of high-tech traffic forecasting technology soon to be deployed on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. The system will alert both operators and drivers of potential bottlenecks before they happen.

Soles and Spokes.  This week, CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog drew readers’ attention to the publication of a new FHWA study examining the safety effectiveness of the High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) pedestrian beacon (called the “Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon” in the new MUTCD).  We also announced the upcoming APBP webinar on the connections between Smart Growth and bicycle and pedestrian plans.

Reminders

IDRP infrastructure program workshops.  The Illinois "Ike" Disaster Recovery Program (IDRP) is seeking grant applications from local and county governments for public infrastructure funds.  Local governments interested in applying can participate in regional workshops to learn more; the northern Illinois region workshop will take place in Chicago on November 18.  

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