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CMAP Board approves budget that will address climate resiliency
Every day, CMAP serves our region in an effort to make northeastern Illinois a stronger, more resilient place to live. Our work is strategically planned in the region’s long-range plan, ON TO 2050, and in its annual budget and work plan.
The CMAP Board recently approved the proposed fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget and work plan. In this video, learn about our work to strengthen the region's transportation system, economy, and climate resilience.
CMAP's climate work focuses on reducing air pollution — including greenhouse gas emissions — and protecting and sustainably managing northeastern Illinois' water resources.
FY25 activities include projects that will:
- Coordinate with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to create a Priority Climate Action Plan and begin work on a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan
- Engage Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories in a scenario planning process to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions
- Partner with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant to assist the Northwest Water Planning Alliance in developing a water supply sustainability plan
- Refine existing regional water demand forecast to provide individual municipal water systems with a long-range planning level forecast
Read the proposed FY25 budget and work plan to understand who we are, what we do, and how we serve the region, as well as where the money comes from and where it goes.
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Join CMAP at IAFSM annual conference
CMAP will present at the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management (IAFSM) annual conference on Tuesday, March 12. During session 3C, "Mapping & Modeling: Insights & Techniques," CMAP will present its development of the region's first Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan, highlighting the data, coordination, and investment needed to reduce the impact of flooding on transportation infrastructure, service, and operations. The presentation will showcase new flood data that helps us understand both current and future flood risk.
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Requesting proposals for Comprehensive Climate Action Plan technical assistance
CMAP is looking for technical assistance with the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. This is an opportunity to help create a plan that brings meaningful change to the region and improve people’s lives.
The Comprehensive Climate Action Plan will cover the Chicago metropolitan statistical area — which includes 9 counties in northeastern Illinois, 4 counties in Indiana, and 1 county in Wisconsin — and identify solutions to meet net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It also will include a comprehensive review of all sources and sinks of emissions, develop detailed recommendations for advancing the goals of the plan, and establish reduction targets and implementation milestones. Proposals are due Friday, March 1.
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Great Lakes ReNEW chosen as regional innovation engine
Water is a vital asset to our region, sustaining both us and our economy. But it is not a limitless resource, and often contains pollutants and minerals that could be removed or put to better use. That’s where Great Lakes ReNEW steps in.
Lead by Current, Great Lakes ReNEW is a multistate partnership to find innovative ways to use and clean wastewater to fuel a more inclusive regional economy. The partnership researches and develops new technologies to remove forever chemicals from water, extract minerals for batteries, and put nutrients to productive use.
The National Science Foundation chose Great Lakes ReNEW as one of 10 inaugural regional innovation engines across the country. This is another in a series of activities that will help the region lead in the clean economy.
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Pace's first electric bus enters service
On Friday, January 19, Pace Suburban Bus debuted its inaugural battery-electric bus. The state-of-the-art bus runs on Route 381 95th Street, serving riders in the southwest suburbs, including Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Bridgeview, Hickory Hills, and Palos Hills, and providing connections between the CTA Red Line and Moraine Valley College.
Pace received a CMAP Regional Excellence Award for its ambitious Project Zero initiative, which aims to convert its entire fleet of over 700 buses to zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
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Three communities receive conservation awards
Congratulations to the three northeastern Illinois communities that received awards from the Conservation Foundation:
- Conservation Partner of the Year: Village of Minooka
- Conservation@Home Award: Village of Glen Ellyn and Glen Ellyn Park District
- Salt Smart Community Award: Village of Homewood
Thank you for your examples of preserving open space, promoting native landscaping, and salting smart.
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ComEd offers EV charger and installation rebates
ComEd launched a new electric vehicle (EV) charger rebate program to residential customers. Customers now can apply for rebates toward purchasing and installing Level 2 EV chargers in their homes purchased on or after Thursday, February 1, 2024. The program offers the highest rebates and reserves 50 percent of funds for equity-eligible communities, including low-income customers and customers living in equity investment eligible communities.
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Low-impact solar development opportunities on Illinois brownfields and mined lands
What is low-impact solar development, and why should communities care? This introductory workshop by the Great Plains Institute is the first in a series to help local governments and community stakeholders understand low-impact development opportunities. Panelists will introduce brownfield and mined land solar development opportunities and identify the resources and tools available to assist developers and communities interested in exploring low-impact clean energy deployment. Join the webinar on Friday, February 16, at 9:30 a.m.
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Tree ordinance workshop
Join the Chicago Region Trees Initiative on Thursday, April 11, for a full-day workshop on administering and managing a tree preservation ordinance. Using real world examples, attendees will learn about regulations, best management practices, and the positive and negative realities of tree preservation. This training is intended for land managers, urban foresters, certified arborists, code enforcement officials, architects, civil engineers, consultants, and anyone working to improve their urban forest.
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What is green infrastructure and nature-based solutions?
The Center for Neighborhood Technology created a flyer to explain urban flooding and common features of green infrastructure. Available in both English and Spanish, this resource can help answer common questions residents, partners, and others may have.
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Illinois Community Canopy Planning Grant
Trees Forever is offering grants to disadvantaged Illinois communities to diversify their community forests or to recover from natural or man-made disasters, such as emerald ash borer. The grants will also help communities prepare for these disasters by planting more diverse disease and storm-resistant shade trees. Apply by Friday, February 23.
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Urban and Community Forestry Grants available for local governments
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service are funding projects to enhance urban and community forestry in disadvantaged communities. These Urban and Community Forestry Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with no match requirement. Project proposals are due Friday, March 1.
The Morton Arboretum offers free application assistance for communities applying to this grant program. Contact Colette Copic at grants.crti@mortonarb.org for more information.
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FTA offering funding for low- and no-emissions buses
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is offering funding to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development through its Low- or No-Emission Program. Applications are due Thursday, April 25.
The FTA will host two webinars on Thursday, February 22, and Tuesday, March 5, to provide information to potential applicants, including a review of program eligibility, an overview of the evaluation criteria and selection considerations, and the submission process.
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Draft notice of funding opportunity for NEVI Formula Grant Program available
The Illinois Department of Transportation released an advance draft of the notice of funding opportunity for the Illinois National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. Potential grant applicants can use the draft to conceptualize their applications and begin discussions between eligible entities prior to solicitation in Spring 2024.
The Illinois NEVI Program will invest over $40 million in grants to eligible applicants to support of a direct current fast charge electric vehicle charging infrastructure network on Illinois’ designated alternative fuel corridors.
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