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No small PART: Recommendations coming soon in plan of action to address regional transit
Big, bold solutions are needed to secure the financial viability of northeastern Illinois' transit system. Our region's transit agencies — the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra — face a budget shortfall of $730 million in 2026 when federal assistance expires. Without action, train and bus service could be drastically reduced.
The state tasked CMAP with developing legislative recommendations that envision a stronger and more financially secure transit system. The Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) is in its final stages of development.
On Wednesday, September 6, the PART Steering Committee meets. Final recommendations will go to the CMAP Board and the Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee, which will meet on Wednesday, September 13. Approval of the report is set for October. The report must be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly and the governor's office by January 1.
Curious about how we can improve transit? View draft recommendations, case studies, interviews, and more.
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Hit hard by early-summer storms? FEMA assistance available for Cook County residents and businesses
Cook County residents have until Monday, October 16, to apply for disaster assistance after the area experienced storms and flooding earlier this summer.
Impacted Cook County residents and businesses can apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling 800-621-3362, applying online at disasterassistance.gov, or using the FEMA app.
Four disaster recovery centers have opened in Cook County to help residents to engage with FEMA representatives on the disaster application process:
- Washington Square Mall, 4851 W. North Ave., Chicago
- Morton College, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero
- Columbus Square Fieldhouse, 500 S. Central Ave., Chicago
- Berwyn Grove Avenue parking garage, 3310 Grove Ave., Berwyn
President Joe Biden declared Cook County a federal disaster area due to the damage from storms and flooding that happened from June 29-July 2.
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 Officials helped celebrate the first completed bus station along the new Pace Pulse Dempster Line. Illinois State Senator Laura Murphy (from left); Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski; Pace Director Bill McLeod, mayor of Hoffman Estates; Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger; Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski; Pace Director David Guerin, mayor of River Grove; and Pace Director Chris Canning.
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The faster route: Pace speeding up service with Pulse Dempster Line
Those traveling on bus from Evanston to O’Hare can get there faster, thanks to grant funding through CMAP.
State and local leaders recently celebrated the new Pulse Dempster Line with Pace Suburban Bus officials in Des Plaines.
The expanded service will provide limited stops, accessible trip information, and amenities such as WiFi and USB charging ports. Once the service fully launches, buses will be scheduled to arrive every 15 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
The purple Pulse buses will feature transit signal priority technology, which will extend green lights and minimize red lights. Sunday-only service was launched August 13, with full daily service expected to start later this year.
The project was funded by a $10 million Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant through CMAP.
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Getting ready for winter: Salt smart to protect our region’s water resources
Road and parking lot salt can help protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers by lowering the freezing point of water, preventing ice from forming. But excessive use negatively affects the quality of the water that enters our groundwater reservoirs.
These practices are linked to rapidly rising chloride levels in some parts of the region. It's up to all of us to achieve our region's goals to protect water resources.
The Salt Smart Collaborative hosts virtual deicing workshops for municipal and public works staff.
There are three workshops on roads — September 26, October 4, and October 10 — and two on parking lots and sidewalks — October 3 and October 17.
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Big honors for IDOT: Jane Byrne, Weber Road interchanges win awards
Congratulations to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for winning two awards from the Midwest chapter of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for projects in northeastern Illinois.
The Jane Byrne interchange won in the quality of life/community development category. It now features improved safety and mobility. Four bridges were rebuilt to create wider sidewalks and bike lanes, among other improvements.
The Weber Road interchange won for best use of technology and innovation. It addressed safety concerns, reconfiguring the interchange with Interstate 55 into a diverging-diamond design.
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McHenry County Water Forum puts spotlight on conservation
Water conservation will be the topic of the sixth annual McHenry County Water Forum, set for Wednesday, September 13, at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.
Registration is not required for the free event. It will feature presentations by scientists, planners, and engineers who specialize in water resources. Residents, businesses, and elected officials are invited to learn what makes the region's water supplies special and how water resources can be protected.
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Comment on CMAP’s draft Public Participation Plan
CMAP welcomes feedback on its draft Public Participation Plan. Your feedback is important because the plan guides CMAP’s proactive engagement of the residents and constituencies of northeastern Illinois and provides residents with guidance on participating in CMAP’s regional policy development and decision-making processes.
Please submit comments on the draft plan by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023.
Comments may be submitted by email to outreach@cmap.illlinois.gov or by U.S. mail to:
Jane Grover
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
433 West Van Buren Street, Suite 450
Chicago, IL 60607
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Register now for fall ADA trainings
Registration is now open for CMAP’s free accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance training workshops. These trainings educate local communities on the ADA and their obligations under the law. Join us for one or more workshops this fall covering the following topics:
- ADA and Title II and the Illinois Accessibility Code: September 14, Glen Ellyn Police Department
- ADA coordinator training: October 11, Brookfield Village Hall
- ADA self-evaluation and design standards: November 8, Arlington Heights Senior Center
- ADA transition plans: November 9, Arlington Heights Senior Center
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CMAP's Logan Square Blue Line ETOD Action Plan recognized for advancing diversity and social change
CMAP's Logan Square Blue Line Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Action Plan (ETOD) has won the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter (APA-IL) Advancing Diversity and Social Change Award.
The plan is built upon collaborative, community-led solutions that address neighborhood displacement and inequities. It used public transit as a community asset to drive neighborhood vitality in a way that was reflective of residents’ needs and wants.
Thanks to all involved, including the Regional Transportation Authority, Elevated Chicago, Palenque Liberating Spaces through Neighborhood Action, LUCHA Chicago, Egret & Ox Planning, Kretchmer Associates, 3E Studio, and William Estrada.
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Parking reform in Waukegan: CMAP's Lindsay Bayley talks about impacts of having too much parking
Lindsay Bayley, program lead for safe and complete streets at CMAP, spoke about off-street parking reform in Waukegan as part of CMAP's work on the City of Waukegan Unified Development Ordinance.
She talked about the role of parking, potential changes, and what those mean for Waukegan, with a focus on the impacts of having too much parking in a community.
The unified development ordinance will modernize land use and zoning ordinances, including changes to off-street parking requirements.
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Help us create the next cohort of CARE! Applications are open now
The Community Alliance for Regional Equity (CARE) is embarking on its next chapter — welcoming a second cohort of community-based organizations in 2024. Applications are now open.
We seek organizations that represent people who are traditionally marginalized or excluded in the transportation planning process, including — but not limited to — Asian American, Arab American, Black, Latino, immigrants, LGBTQ+ organizations, Native American, Pacific Islander, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, residents with low income, and young people.
Through CARE, we are directly engaging marginalized communities in long-range planning activities and removing barriers to participation to drive more equitable outcomes in northeastern Illinois.
CARE members are compensated for their work — each receiving a $10,000, unrestricted honorarium. Applications are due by September 19 for this second CARE cohort. It launches in January and runs through December 2024.
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