Promoting "Illinois Works." The RTA board meeting yesterday focused on the need to pass a capital program for the state of Illinois. (See related news coverage.) I was among several speakers who emphasized the extreme importance of passing the Illinois Works initiative to fund necessary infrastructure improvements. (Also yesterday, the RTA welcomed several new members to expand the board from 13 to 16 members, as called for in the transit reform legislation enacted in January. I believe this is a positive step that acknowledges how much the entire region has at stake in public transportation.) Next week, I'll have the opportunity to testify at the Illinois Works "listening session" in Naperville. The event, which will feature Illinois Works co-chairs Dennis Hastert and Glenn Poshard, will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23 (not April 16, as last week's mail mistakenly stated), at the Holiday Inn Select Naperville, 1801 N. Naper Blvd. For more information and to RSVP, please call Erin Lytle of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce at 630-355-4141.

"Bold Ideas" contest winners. At the main GO TO 2040 web page, we've posted many new videos of the winning entries in our "Bold Ideas" contest at Whitney Young High School. (Just play the introductory video, and the rest should play in sequence.) WYHS is one of three schools selected for pilot contests to get kids thinking -- and acting -- creatively about the future. The winning entries are very thought-provoking, as these students are concerned about a wide range of issues that will determine the quality of life in our region as they move through adulthood. I continue to be impressed by the imagination and energy they display in expressing those views, whether via words, illustrations, videos, original music, or performance. Be watching for more web multimedia soon from our other pilot school partners at Pulaski Middle School and Carpenter Elementary School.

Water supply update. CMAP hosted a special meeting of the Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) this week to discuss the Draft Regional Water-Demand Scenarios for Northeastern Illinois: 2005-2050 report. The report author, Dr. Benedykt Dziegielewski of Southern Illinois University was on hand to give a presentation of how the report has evolved in response to feedback thus far. The public was provided the opportunity to make additional comments and ask questions about the details in the report. The regular monthly RWSPG meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22 in Belvidere. See http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/water-2050 for more information.

Urban Earth Day event. On Tuesday, April 22, Doug Farr, founding principal of Farr Associates and winner of a 2008 Chicago Magazine Green Award, will speak about "The Future of Green Chicago" as part of Urban Earth Day activities at Kennedy-King College. Called "one of the most prominent of the city's growing cadre of ecologically sensitive architects" by the New York Times, Farr is known for helping to create sustainable human environments by applying the principles of LEED at the neighborhood level. Orrin Williams, long-time green activist and recent LISC Community Hero Awards winner, will speak to local applications and issues of sustainability, with focus on the Englewood community. The event begins at 6:00 p.m., with refreshments available starting at 5:30 p.m. Location is the King-Kennedy College U Theatre Building, 63rd & Halsted Ave., Chicago. RSVP to Sharon Samuels at 773-678-9541.

Get people to GO TO. Thanks to our friends and partners who have been promoting the GO TO 2040 website and blog. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to build awareness, so don’t forget to email links to partner agencies, family, and friends in the region. Yesterday, we spotted a blogger in Elgin who is promoting our GO TO 2040 efforts. We need lots of public interaction through comments (including our series of strategy reports), and surveys for this to be successful. Please include a web link to www.goto2040.org whenever and wherever you can.