Interagency consultation is required under the transportation conformity rule, as described in 40 CFR 51.402. In the northeastern Illinois region, these procedures are addressed through the consultation process described below and through the work of CMAP's committees, subcommittees, task forces and working groups as described in the region's Public Participation Plan.
In the northeastern Illinois region, consultation involving the MPO, Illinois EPA (IEPA), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), FHWA, FTA and U.S. EPA facilitates the local, regional and state decision-making process by providing a forum for all affected federal, state, regional and local agencies to discuss and resolve important issues. Decisions made through this interagency consultation process guide the MPO in making the conformity determination.