|
We're stronger when we work together: a year of great strides and collaboration
As we reflect on this past year, our region has made great strides toward our shared transportation, climate, and economic goals. These 2023 successes — achieved in partnership with you — spotlight a strong, thriving, and resilient northeastern Illinois.
|
|
 Top: CMAP team members in the region delivering training on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bottom left: The cohort for the Community Alliance for Regional Equity meets. Bottom right: CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman speaks about the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership.
|
|
-
Together, we advanced big, bold solutions necessary to transform our transit system. The Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) proposes options to address a looming $730 million fiscal cliff, to secure the long-term financial viability of the transit system, and to strengthen service for the entire region.
-
Together, we launched and implemented the first-of-its-kind Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, a collaboration among the region’s seven counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will) and the City of Chicago. Managed by World Business Chicago, the effort is showcasing how northeastern Illinois is stronger when it works together.
-
Together, we brought greater equity and inclusiveness into regional planning by stronger engagement with communities that have traditionally been excluded from the planning process through the first cohort of the Community Alliance for Regional Equity (CARE).
-
Together, communities are taking steps to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act through CMAP’s training program including workshops, materials, videos, and more.
-
And together, we launched a collaborative safety planning program — Safe Travel for All Roadmap (STAR) — to help the region address a rise in traffic deaths, particularly among pedestrians and bicyclists through a regional traffic safety framework and countywide safety action plans. This work leverages a $5 million federal grant awarded in response to a joint application submitted by CMAP and the Illinois Department of Transportation in partnership with the region’s counties.
Be on the lookout early next year, for our 2023 annual report to further highlight our region’s success stories and as we implement our shared vision, ON TO 2050. CMAP is proud to be your partner in these efforts.
As we head into 2024, we’re eager to continue to work together to build a more inclusive and thriving region.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!
Erin Aleman, executive director
|
|
 Top: CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman speaks at the PART launch. Joining Erin from left to right are City of Chicago Chief Operating Officer John Roberson; 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; Metropolitan Planning Council CEO and President Darlene Hightower; and Civic Federation Acting President Sarah Wetmore. Left middle: Mayor Bennett talks about PART. Bottom left: Aleman, President Preckwinkle, and Wetmore celebrate the launch. Bottom right: Aleman hands off PART to its legislative sponsors Villivalam and Delgado.
|
|
A time to be bold: PART plan delivers solutions to avoid transit funding crisis in our region
CMAP delivered the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART), providing the big, bold solutions needed to transform and strengthen northeastern Illinois’ transit system.
CMAP hosted a milestone event in Chicago, to celebrate the culmination of 10 months of rigorous work. Leaders from across the region — including state, county, and local elected officials — along with regional business and civic leaders praised PART and called on state lawmakers to take action on the legislative recommendations.
Transit agencies in northeastern Illinois face a fiscal cliff, with an expected budget shortfall of $730 million in 2026. PART fulfills a state requirement tasking CMAP with developing legislative recommendations on the region’s transit system.
"These 129 pages include proposed solutions built on sound policy, data, research, analysis, and consensus. Everything in this report is focused on strengthening our transit system for the people who call northeastern Illinois home. Now is the time to be bold — to chart a path for the next 50, 100 years of transit investments that lives up to the region's economic, equity, and climate commitments," said CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman.
CMAP brought together representatives from business, community, environmental, labor, and civic sectors to develop a menu of solutions. PART supports our region’s ON TO 2050 principles of inclusive growth, resilience, and prioritized investment.
CMAP and the many partners and stakeholders involved in PART organized the report around three themes:
-
The system we want: Ideas to rebuild public confidence, increase ridership, and improve the experience for all types of riders — to ensure transit service is seamless and affordable.
-
How to pay for it: Reforms and funding options that can close the multimillion-dollar shortfall facing the region's transit system.
-
How to implement it: Efforts to address governance structures and how funding is distributed.
|
|
Supporting a more inclusive region: accessibility training materials available online
More than 130 attendees joined CMAP and our partners for the fall accessibility training series. Updated materials and recordings are available online for all four trainings.
The program covered the Americans with Disabilities Act and communities’ obligations under the law. Learning about accessibility compliance — and putting those lessons into practice — are important steps toward making our region more inclusive and ensuring it continues to receive critical transportation funding.
|
|
Get to know CMAP's director of planning: Mike Brown joins Houses and Hotels podcast
CMAP Director of Planning Mike Brown joined host Julia Radu for a chat on the Houses and Hotels podcast about real estate.
Learn about Michael’s journey to becoming CMAP’s director of planning, including:
- Growing up in Alabama in a family of builders and architects
- Studying architecture and then pivoting to planning
- CMAP’s recently completed Avondale Neighborhood Plan
- Why it’s more about work-life harmony than work-life balance
- And more!
|
|
Eyes on the future: talking with residents in Franklin Park, Braidwood
CMAP representatives helped kick off holiday festivities in Franklin Park, where they chatted with residents about how to improve a major roadway. In Braidwood, residents packed an open house to talk about shaping the city's future.
The two visits were part of CMAP's community engagement efforts. The Capacity Building Program is part of our local technical assistance work, which supports communities through planning and implementation assistance.
In Franklin Park, CMAP is creating a plan to transform Grand Avenue into an accessible and thriving corridor, making it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. CMAP planners talked with residents who helped fill up our tree and shared their favorite thing about the village.
In Braidwood, CMAP facilitated an open house to talk about the city’s comprehensive plan. The plan focuses on land use and development, transportation, parks and open space, natural resources, community facilities, and Braidwood's image and identity.
|
|
Move Illinois: IDOT seeks insights on long-range transportation plan
Move Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) 2024 long-range transportation plan, will be a strategic roadmap to improve transportation across the state. IDOT is seeking residents’ insights on transportation experiences and challenges to inform the next plan.
Additionally, IDOT is hosting a virtual advisory group webinar that will help shape the plan’s strategic goals, objectives, and strategies on Wednesday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m. Webex links and additional information are available on the Move Illinois webpage.
|
|
Take the survey: help create an improved experience at Union Station
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 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.
|
|
A big boost for passenger rail routes: federal funding to provide improvements in our region
The Federal Railroad Administration awarded 69 proposals with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act intended to jump start the planning process for passenger rail routes and other improvements.
Fifteen new and preexisting routes in northeastern Illinois were selected and will benefit from funding of up to $500,000 each for further development.
Passenger rail routes are organized into four categories, including new high-speed rail, new conventional rail, existing routes with extensions, and enhancing existing routes. Our region plays a key role in the national freight and passenger rail network, and we’re excited by the opportunity to continue to connect communities and provide enhanced transportation choices.
|
|
Dynamic dozen: northeastern Illinois communities achieve EV Ready status
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus recognized 12 northeastern Illinois communities that have completed a program aimed at helping local governments prepare for the growth of electric vehicles.
These communities are the first to achieve EV Ready status through the program, which is supported by ComEd.
CMAP's long-range plan, ON TO 2050, calls on local governments to identify ways to promote electric vehicle infrastructure in the transportation system. Congratulations to these communities putting that plan into action, and thanks to the other communities that have joined the program in the quest to become EV ready.
The EV Ready communities include:
- Carol Stream
- Darien
- Deer Park
- Geneva
- Glencoe
- Hampshire
- Hanover Park
- Maywood
- Oak Park
- Polo
- Skokie
- University Park
|
|
Have project ideas that could transform emissions reduction? It's time to put them into action
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering Climate Pollution Reduction Grants between $2 million and $500 million for state and local governments. Given the scale of climate challenge, they are looking to fund large-scale projects — and are encouraging applicants to form coalitions and work together.
Do you have project ideas that could substantially reduce emissions? CMAP created a form for you to submit ideas and get connected with similar efforts to create strong, coordinated applications for the region.
You can also can attend a virtual townhall on Monday, December 18, to learn more about this funding opportunity and how it fits into current climate action planning.
|
|
|
|
|
