New ADA trainings available, job opening, and more

March 16, 2023

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

What's new

Register now: Trainings available on ADA self-evaluations and transition plans 

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will offer two free trainings in April to educate local communities on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

These sessions are intended for ADA coordinators, public works directors, and local government employees engaged in improving pedestrian accommodations within the public right-of-way.

Participants are welcome to attend one or both trainings:

Self-evaluation and design standards training 

When: Tuesday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
Where: City Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center
400 S. Eagle St.
Naperville, IL 60540

The ADA requires local governments to conduct a self-evaluation, to assess all programs and services to identify any barriers to access.

This session will include a brief overview of completing a self-evaluation for all programs and services, but it will primarily focus on the public right-of-way.

Learn more and register

Transition plan training 

When: Wednesday, April 19, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Aurora Police Department  
1200 E. Indian Trail Rd.
Aurora, IL 60505

The ADA requires local governments with 50 or more employees to develop a transition plan, which identifies the agency’s plans to eliminate identified barriers.

This session will guide attendees on using the ADA self-evaluation to complete the transition plan. It will primarily focus on the public right-of-way.

Learn more and register

Accommodations 

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate, please contact Evan Means at emeans@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8838 by Friday, April 7. Requests for an ASL translator must be sent by Tuesday, March 21.

Future trainings

CMAP will offer additional ADA trainings in fall 2023. Stay tuned for more information and registration.

We're hiring: Apply for regional ADA coordinator position

CMAP is hiring a regional ADA coordinator at the principal level in our planning department. We're interested in applicants with a general planning or public administration background; however, we are particularly interested in those with experience in coordinating projects and initiatives to increase municipal compliance with the ADA. 

If you share our values of serving with passion, fostering collaboration, driving innovation, pursuing equity, and leading with excellence, we invite you to apply.

Around the region

Share your thoughts on modernizing the Red and Purple Lines 

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is taking on the next phase of the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) program. The RPM program will rebuild Red Line and Purple Line infrastructure and stations that are significantly beyond their useful life. It will allow CTA to increase train capacity, add accessibility, and improve customer experience for generations to come.

The RPM Next Phases Planning Study initiates the planning work necessary to complete the improvements along the 9.6-mile corridor from Addison to Linden.

The CTA invites residents and visitors within the study area to take a 10-minute survey about how the Red and Purple Lines can better serve you. 

Apply for Invest in Cook transportation funding

Invest in Cook is an $8.5 million grant program to help local governments and agency partners further their transportation projects by covering some of the costs of planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction associated with transportation improvements.

Applications for the current round of funding are due Friday, March 17, by 5:00 p.m.

Learn more and apply on the program website.

Events

Online events

The Intersection of Women and Disability
March 21
Host: Great Lakes ADA Center

Hybrid events

Chicago Mobility Collaborative
March 16, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Host: Chicago Department of Transportation

Public Transit in a Post-COVID World: Building a Financially Stable, Equitable and Accessible Mass Transit System
April 13
Host: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

In-person events

ADA and Public Right-of-Way Seminar
April 13
Host: Illinois Department of Transportation

ADA Self-evaluation and Design Standards Training
April 18
Host: CMAP

ADA Transition Plan Training
April 19
Host: CMAP

2023 National Shared Mobility Summit
May 2 to 4
Host: Shared-Use Mobility Center