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 CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman speaks at the launch of the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART). Joining Erin at the event from left to right are John Roberson, Chief Operating Officer of the City of Chicago; Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart; CMAP Board Chair Mayor Gerald Bennett; Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle; and to Erin's right are DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy; Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam; Illinois State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado; Darlene Hightower of the Metropolitan Planning Council; Sarah Wetmore of the Civic Federation.
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CMAP delivers Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) to state leaders, charting a strong future for transit
Last week, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) proudly delivered the final Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) at a milestone event hosted in Chicago. The celebration was the culmination of 10 months of rigorous work and included a wide variety of regional leaders who came together to develop the plan.
Transit agencies in northeastern Illinois face a fiscal cliff, with an expected budget shortfall of $730 million in 2026. Big, bold solutions are needed to secure the financial viability of the region’s transit system. PART addresses a variety of timely transit needs, including financial viability and funding, rider experience and accessibility, governance, and community and economic development. PART supports our region’s ON TO 2050 principles of inclusive growth, resilience, and prioritized investment.
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Mark your calendar: 2024 National ADA Symposium
The National ADA Symposium is a comprehensive conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and disability-related laws. This annual event features sessions on a wide array of topics from nationally recognized experts, including representatives from the federal agencies that implement the ADA.
- The virtual conference will be held May 6-8, 2024
- The on-site conference will be held June 9-12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
CMAP will share registration details when they became available.
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New web content accessibility guidelines
The Web Accessibility Initiative and the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group published new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 as a World Wide Web Consortium recommendation.
WCAG 2.2 adds new criteria that address barriers encountered by people with visual, mobility, hearing, and cognitive disabilities. Supporting documents also help explain how to make web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, and web user stories help illustrate aspects of the guidelines.
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Accessibility tip: Outline fonts to improve contrast
When designing maps or graphics, contrast is critical for ensuring text legibility. If you’re not sure whether the color beneath text will provide enough contrast, try using a contrasting color to make a halo around the text. The example above shows how white text with a black outline provides visual contrast, making the map more accessible than white or black labels alone.
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Federal RAISE grant opportunity
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced $1.5 billion in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant funding available to help state and local governments complete locally and regionally important transportation projects. Recently awarded projects include planning and roadway rehabilitation efforts that improve accessibility and safety.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EST on February 28, 2024 and selections will be announced no later than June 27, 2024.
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Chicago Union Station concourse improvement survey
Amtrak is planning for the redesign of the concourse at Chicago’s Union Station and wants to hear from you. The new concourse design will increase capacity and provide a higher level of service. The renovation will incorporate contemporary thinking around sustainability, inclusivity, and universal design. It will improve safety, reduce severe congestion, create a customer-friendly passenger flow, improve signage and wayfinding, expand restroom capacity, and create a spacious Amtrak waiting and boarding area –– providing a more welcoming environment for both Amtrak and Metra customers.
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U.S. Department of Transportation seeks input on accessibility of transit facilities
USDOT is seeking input on improving accessibility of transit facilities for people with disabilities. The department is considering whether to amend the accessibility requirements for transportation facilities under the ADA and seeks suggestions from transportation agencies, municipalities, community members, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders. Focus areas include elevators/escalators, communications, and wayfinding/signage.
Comments are due by January 5, 2024.
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