Help restore CMAP funding.  As we shared with you last week, we are seeking your assistance to help resolve a potentially damaging funding issue CMAP is experiencing with the state.  The Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund (where CMAP gets $3.5 million to match federal funds and do non-transportation planning) was zeroed out of Governor Quinn's proposed Fiscal Year 2010 budget.  Please see the "call to action" fact sheet, sample letter, and list of contacts to help you make your feelings known to the Governor's office, leadership in the General Assembly, and appropriation chairs.  It is also helpful for you to contact your local legislators or others with whom you have a personal connection.  We are trying to reach out to as many people and organizations as possible, so please take action and help spread the word.

Developments of Regional Importance (DRI).  The Programming Coordinating Committee met this week to discuss the comments received on version 2.0 of the DRI Process document.  The Environment and Natural Resources Committee also presented their proposed revisions to the threshold criteria.  As requested at the last meeting, staff presented a recommendation to the committee for their consideration.  Following a discussion, the Committee recommended that the Board consider approving version 2.0 of the document with the modifications suggested by the staff in this memo.  The CMAP Board will consider this for approval at the May 13 meeting.

Burnham pavilions.  This week our friends at the Burnham Plan Centennial unveiled designs for the two temporary pavilions by renowned architects Zaha Hadid and Ben van Berkel.  The Chase Promenade South site in Millennium Park will also include a GO TO 2040 interactive kiosk that will introduce visitors to our alternative scenarios for how to implement the regional vision.  We're excited to have a small presence near these very striking pavilions that will remind people all summer of Burnham's accomplishment and the need to plan effectively as a region.

Blog.  In the GO TO 2040 blog, Lindsay Banks explores how Barrington Hills is using a phone notification system to keep its residents informed.  Megan Elberts shares student stories and videos from the February "H20h So Important" Youth Symposium at the Field Museum. And CMAP gets a shout out from blogger Robert Goodspeed, who is finding our Twitter feed and related updates to be useful.

GO TO 2040 Community Conversations. Please see http://www.goto2040.org/conversations.aspx for an updated list of Community Conversations that CMAP has scheduled for residents to discuss the GO TO 2040 campaign. Next week, we will host a meeting with Concordia University Chicago at the Koehneke Community Center (7400 Augusta Street, River Forest) on Wednesday, April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (For more information, please contact Diana Torres at 312-386-8774 or dtorres@cmap.illinois.gov).

Upcoming talks.  I will speak about "The Urgency of Long-range Planning" in Schaumburg on the morning of May 20 for the American Public Works Association (Chicago Chapter) and Illinois City/County Management Association.  Click here for registration details.  Also, on May 8, I'll have the privilege of making a commencement address at the request of Dean Michael Pagano from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

Women's Transportation Seminar.  CMAP is hosting a networking event for the Women's Transportation Seminar.  CMAP staffers Jill Leary, Dolores Dowdle, and Patricia Berry will speak about their daily activities, career history, and advice for younger members.  It is being held on April 22, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. in the Cook County Room.  Please contact Jessica Slaton to RSVP.  A modest registration fee includes refreshments.

Transport Chicago registration.  The 24^th Annual Transport Chicago Conference is being held on Friday June 5, 2009 at the American Dental Association Building.  This year the conference will include a keynote address by Mr. Frank Busalacchi, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  He also served as a member of National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.  During lunch, conference attendees will be celebrating the Burnham Plan centennial.  For registration and individual panel descriptions please visit http://www.transportchicago.org. 

CTA open houses.  The Chicago Transit Authority invites the public to a presentation of the preliminary locally preferred alternative for the proposed Orange Line Extension, resulting from consideration of transit technologies and alignments in a study area bordered by 59th Street on the north, 79th Street on the south, Pulaski Road on the east, and Laramie Avenue on the west.