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Celebrating public service and regional excellence; focusing on the Plan of Action for Regional Transit
Every day, countless people serve communities across our region. Many of these individuals are public-facing like police, fire or streets and sanitation. And many others work behind the scenes planning, analyzing, engineering, budgeting, visioning, shaping and solving issues to improve our communities and peoples’ lives.
In early May, Public Service Recognition Week recognizes these individuals' service. At the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), we celebrated our outstanding teams and individuals in the categories of Good Government, ON TO 2050 Advancement, CMAP Core Values, and Difference Maker. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to those who serve at all levels of government — federal, state, regional, county, and local. You make our region and communities thrive!
In addition to spotlighting our team, we also have been out in the region recognizing initiatives and people who exemplify excellence by improving northeastern Illinois’ quality of life. Meet this year’s Regional Excellence Award winners and watch videos to learn more about these achievements.
In other CMAP happenings this spring, we look forward to our Board and committees returning to in-person meetings with the recent lifting of the state COVID-19 disaster declaration. Check out our meetings calendar.
The CMAP Team is also assisting and lending our expertise to Chicago’s new mayor. I am serving on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Transition Subcommittee on Transportation along with other transportation leaders in the region.
Finally, over the last few months and in the upcoming weeks, the CMAP team is intently focused on development of the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART). This includes engaging and collecting input from many stakeholder groups, including the PART Steering Committee, working groups, public focus groups, government partners, and more. CMAP is charged with submitting a plan to the governor and Illinois General Assembly at the beginning of next year with recommendations around reforms related to transit service, financing, and governance. The report will need to be approved by the CMAP Board and the MPO Policy Committee in October before being submitted to the Legislature.
You can watch recent PART updates to the CMAP Board from the April and May meetings.
I hope you have the opportunity to discover and enjoy all our region has to offer this spring and summer — our great lake, and 284 cities and villages across seven counties. I also encourage you to use transit when and if you can; visit our partner’s website for maps, transit routes, and tips on how to ride.
Erin Aleman, executive director
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Rehab work at Homewood Station will help get "people where they need to go throughout the region"
A new, state-of-the art, ADA-accessible Pace bus facility is coming to Chicago’s Southland. Leaders from across the region recently celebrated the project’s kickoff in Homewood; the renovation includes a new bus station, ADA-accessible headhouse and ramp, and new and improved platform.
The $14.5 million project is supported by federal funding from the regional Surface Transportation Program, which CMAP administers. CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman joined officials from our region, including Metra, Pace Suburban Bus, the Village of Homewood, Regional Transportation Authority, and the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways.
Aleman said the project is "an investment toward inclusive growth: for communities in the south suburbs and Chicago’s South Side, for greater accessibility, and for getting people to where they need to go throughout the region."
“This work represents a significant improvement for our Homewood customers and is part of a significant investment by Metra into its stations, particularly its stations on the Metra Electric Line,” said Metra CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski.
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From mobility justice to transit-oriented development, conference aims to improve transportation in our region
Transport Chicago, an annual conference that seeks to improve transportation in our region, is set for Friday, June 16, at voco Chicago Downtown next to the Merchandise Mart.
Session topics include ADA mobility improvements, commuter rail, connected and autonomous vehicles, mobility justice, transit-oriented development, environmental justice, pedestrian and bike safety, and more. The keynote speakers will be Molly Poppe, chief innovation officer at the Chicago Transit Authority, and Monali Shah, co-founder of Impact Mākars, a social enterprise that uses creative expression to create connection within organizations.
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What can be done to boost use of accessory dwelling units? Conference looks for answers
An event to support greater use of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in our region brought together a crowd of about 100 designers, lenders, and officials, with CMAP among the hosts.
ADUs, second housing units on a single-family lot, feature smaller, independent units with a full kitchen and bathroom. These separate living spaces can be located within a home, such as a basement apartment; attached to the home, such as a garage apartment; or detached from the home, such as a cottage.
Last month's event included three panels, which covered municipal policy, design and construction, and financing and resources.
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Upstream Illinois proposes "blue economy" based on water-related industries
Chicago-based water innovation hub Current has released Upstream Illinois, a "blueprint to drive economic growth" in water-related industries.
Upstream Illinois notes that, with a changing climate and changing economy, Illinois should leverage its resources to make the region home for innovation that can solve local and global water challenges.
This blueprint recommends strategies and partnerships to identify opportunities, make connections and prepare for the future. It also seeks to create "jobs and wealth for those who may traditionally not have access to economic opportunities."
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How can green infrastructure prevent flooding? Illinois Groundwork can help
You may be familiar with green infrastructure — such as rain gardens or permeable pavement — but did you know that the soil beneath these tools is key to successfully reducing flooding? Groundwork Illinois has launched a new free online tool which emphasizes the role of soil.
Illinois Groundwork is a collaboration between Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Illinois Extension, providing access to data and other resources that can help communities and stormwater professionals with more effective soil absorption.
The free web tool includes interactive resources, as well as "Plant Finder," which provides detailed information on soil type, light, and moisture needs for plants that support drainage. Get started exploring green stormwater infrastructure design.
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Did you miss out on our public opinion survey results and learning about bike safety? Subscribe now!
If you're not signed up to receive our newsletters, you're missing out. Here's a look at some recent highlights:
In the latest Accessible Communities, you'll find out about CMAP's free ADA compliance trainings. The first round is complete, and we expect to launch more trainings in early fall.
Transportation News includes information about new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's transition efforts. CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman will serve alongside prominent regional leaders on Johnson's Transportation Subcommittee.
Climate News features findings from CMAP's public opinion survey about how our communities are being impacted by climate change, and celebrated award winners that make our region more resilient.
Safety News includes information about National Bicycle Safety Month, which is ongoing in May. Our region is experiencing a traffic safety crisis, and an increasing number of those killed are people walking or riding a bike — our most vulnerable travelers.
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