Randy Blankenhorn

CMAP funding reminder.  We appreciate all our partners' efforts to restore the Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund (CRPF).  If you haven't already, please remember to work with your associates to make your feelings known to Governor Quinn, IDOT, and leaders of the General Assembly.  I'm meeting today with legislators and staff in the Governor's Chicago office.  Members of the CMAP Board will visit Springfield on May 6, 2009, in hopes of convincing the state's leaders to reinstate the fund, which benefits metropolitan and rural areas alike. The Illinois Association of Regional Councils, the Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council, and CMAP have prepared a report on the impacts of the CRPF.  Read more (including a "call to action" fact sheet, sample letter, and list of contacts) in an entry at the GO TO 2040 blog, which got a nice mention this week at the Gapers Block site.  I also taped an interview about the CMAP funding problem with WBEZ, whose story should air over the weekend or on Monday.

Stimulus overview.  This week, Governor Quinn's office released a draft document that provides an overview of the various federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) resources available to the State of Illinois.  It outlines the strict federal requirements the state must meet to obtain the funds, which fall into roughly two categories: "formula" and "competitive."  The former is distributed to recipients by existing federal formula, the latter refers to funds for which Illinois must compete with other states and entities.

Stimulus coverage.  Lynette Kalsnes of WBEZ radio had a story this week comparing local stimulus projects to the old WPA, with quotes from CMAP Board member Mayor Zenovia Evans of Riverdale and myself. Click here for streaming audio.  Earlier in the week, Crain's Chicago Business and the Chicago Tribune ran stories about the effects of local stimulus projects.  The Trib included a map summarizing ARRA highlights in our region.  As U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood told the paper, "You're going to see an enormous number of people building roads and bridges, starting as soon as the weather breaks."

HSR.  Also related to the ARRA, yesterday President Obama announced plans for development of high-speed rail (HSR) in the U.S.  Click here for the Administration's report, which includes details on the competitive project selection process for ARRA HSR funds.  The Chicago Hub Network is one of ten corridors eligible for funding, as described in this story from Business Week.

BRT.  This week, Jon Hilkevitch of the Tribune described plans by the RTA, Pace, and their partners to implement a bus rapid transit (BRT) lane on the Stevenson Expressway.  I believe this is the type of innovative solution we need to pursue in seeking to maximize benefits of our existing transportation system.    

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 the following meetings:

• Lake County Forest Preserves, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center (21950 N. Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods) on Wednesday, April 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (For more information, please contact Ylda Capriccioso at 312-386-8670 or ycapriccioso@cmap.illinois.gov)
  
• Aurora Public Library (1 E. Benton St., Aurora) on Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (For more information, please contact Diana Torres at 312-386-8774 or dtorres@cmap.illinois.gov)
  
• Olive Harvey Community College (10001 S. Woodlawn, Chicago) on Wednesday, April 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (For more information, please contact Ylda Capriccioso at 312-386-8670 or ycapriccioso@cmap.illinois.gov)
  

Blog entry. The GO TO 2040 blog has an item about the fourth annual Food Policy Summit, "Edible Change! Building Networks for Policy Action," by Lynn Peemoeller, co-chair of the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council. 

More on the Burnham pavilions.  Some additional coverage has appeared on the web regarding the Burnham Plan Centennial pavilions that will be located in Millennium Park this summer.  NBC-5 interviewed centennial executive director Emily Harris, and Geoffrey Baer of WTTW-11's "Chicago Tonight" also reviewed the striking pavilion designs.  Even the President gave the centennial a plug in announcing his HSR plans:  "Make no little plans. That's what Daniel Burnham said in Chicago.  I believe that about America. Make no little plans. So let's get to work."

Public Health Benefits of Sustainable Development. Co-hosted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chicago Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, this workshop will focus on how sustainable development can improve community/public health. CMAP staffer Paul Reise will present on sustainability and brownfield redevelopment in Blue Island. It is May 8, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at the Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 West Jackson in Chicago.  For registration and individual panel details click here, or contact Laurel Berman (laberman@cdc.gov or 312-886-0840). The cost is $45 and includes lunch.

SUSTAINOVATE '09. More than a traditional conference, SUSTAINOVATE is a dynamic space for relationships to be developed, networks formed, best practices refined, and ideas pursued. SUSTAINOVATE provides knowledge, strategy, and inspiration to those seeking a more positive way forward for their businesses and communities. SUSTAINOVATE brings together a group of 100 engaged participants from a variety of corporations and entrepreneurial ventures to seek better answers. Together, we will investigate the challenges and immense opportunities presented by the integration of sustainability into the products, services and practices of forward-working businesses. Visit www.SUSTAINOVATE.org to register and learn more about this exciting event. The organizers would like to extend the discounted member rate to all of the CMAP partners, members and networks.