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Our region's new approach to planning
CMAP is excited to announce a new approach to fulfilling its federal and state metropolitan planning responsibilities, including the successor to ON TO 2050 and the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). This new approach was presented at the most recent Transportation Committee meeting, which you can view on CMAP's YouTube channel.
The RTP is the state and federally mandated long-range transportation plan for northeastern Illinois, developed in concert with local leaders, transportation agencies, community organizations, and and the general public. The plan sets regional transportation policy that guides planning and investment decisions to meet the needs of the people who live, work and travel in northeastern Illinois – today and in the future.
As the federally designated metropolitan transportation organization, CMAP coordinates updates to the RTP every four years. The next update is due by October 2026 to ensure compliance with federal planning regulations and continued federal transportation funding eligibility for projects and programs in the region.
The 2026 RTP will identify current and future transportation needs in in our region and will provide:
- A long-term vision for the region’s transportation system
- Goals and performance targets that describe the outcomes the region wants to achieve and indicators to measure progress
- Policies that guide decisions and actions in pursuit of the vision and goals
- A financial plan that identifies how the region will pay for investments
- A prioritized regionally significant transportation investment strategy
- Other elements required by federal law
The RTP development involves close collaboration with our transportation partners and is informed by research, transportation partners, community input, technical analysis, and federal and state regulations. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate, craft, and review this long-term blueprint for our region's transportation system.
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Communities can apply now for technical assistance
Communities throughout northeastern Illinois now can submit applications to receive planning support to make roads safer, increase accessibility, and improve connections for all users. CMAP partnered again with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to host this year’s call for projects.
This coordinated approach allows CMAP and RTA to offer planning and implementation assistance to an expanded base of eligible applicants. It also aligns with ON TO 2050, the comprehensive plan for northeastern Illinois, and Transit is the Answer, the regional transit strategic plan. Projects selected for planning assistance will be announced in early June.
The online application covers the different program offerings and asks interested applicants a series of questions to identify their project goals and strategies. Communities can submit applications until the call closes at noon Friday, March 22. For any questions about the application process, email applications@cmap.illinois.gov.
Additionally, discover what type of assistance is right for your community using this new guide.
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Proposed FY2025 Unified Work Program
The Unified Work Program (UWP) lists the planning projects CMAP and other agencies undertake each year to enhance transportation in northeastern Illinois and to fulfill federal planning regulations. The UWP is designed to run in conjunction with the State of Illinois fiscal year timeline of July 1 through June 30.
CMAP's UWP Committee and Transportation Committee recently reviewed and approved the draft UWP, with the MPO Policy Committee considering it at their next meeting on March 14. The public is invited to review the draft UWP which includes planning activities to be carried out in the region, detailing each project's description, products, costs and source of funding.
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2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All funding now available
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program is now open for applications. More than $1.25 billion in grant funding is available for projects that improve roadway safety by preventing death and serious injuries for all users.
CMAP’s Safe Travel for All Roadway program is primarily funded by a $5 million SS4A grant — your community can join this regional effort to improve roadway safety too! Counties, municipalities, states, metropolitan planning organizations, and Tribal governments can apply for SS4A funding to develop safety action plans and support planning, design, and implementation of projects identified in a safety action plan. Communities with questions about applying for SS4A grant funding can contact Lindsay Bayley at lbayley@cmap.illinois.gov.
Additionally, the USDOT is hosting a series of informational webinars, including:
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Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities
Friday, March 8, 12:30-2:00 p.m. (CT) This webinar will offer a general overview of the SS4A program and the grant application process, with a particular focus on applying for funding for supplemental planning and demonstration activities.
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Implementation Grants
Wednesday, March 13, 12:30-2:00 p.m. (CT) This webinar will offer a general overview of the SS4A program and the grant application process, with a particular focus on applying for Implementation Grants.
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Planning and research grants available through IDOT
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced $7 million in available grants for select projects and activities that help advance the state's long-range transportation and planning goals. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 14.
Awards will be chosen based on the ability to study or implement a goal, strategy, or objective of IDOT's Long-Range Transportation Plan or one of the agency's multimodal plans, such as the transit, rail, bike, freight, and highway safety plans. Eligible activities include planning studies, data collection and analysis, research and program development, performance management, and outreach efforts.
Local and state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning commissions, and nonprofit entities with public sponsors can apply. To receive the grants, successful applicants must agree to provide a funding match of 20 percent. Proposals that benefit disadvantaged or economically distressed communities will be given priority consideration and are eligible for full funding.
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Metra receives federal grant for new rail cars
The USDOT's Federal Transit Administration recently announced $631 million in grants to improve rail transit safety and reliability for passengers through the purchase of new American-made rail cars. This investment, a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will improve transportation systems across the nation while creating good-paying jobs and boosting economic competitiveness.
Metra will receive $100 million to buy 50 modern, multilevel railcars that will feature new passenger safety, accessibility, and rider comfort amenities to replace older railcars that have been in service for more than 40 years. Metra originally ordered 200 new multilevel cars from Alstom in January 2021, with an option to purchase 300 more. This recent grant funding, along with local matching funds, will allow Metra to exercise part of the option.
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Everyone deserves to feel safe on transit
The RTA recently joined CTA, Metra, Pace, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and other municipal and social service partners to host a cross-sector Public Transit Safety and Security Summit. The summit was a major implementation step of the strategic plan Transit is the Answer, and a collaborative effort toward ensuring all riders and operators feel safe on transit.
The Safety and Security Summit gathered nearly 80 participants, including regional leaders like CMAP, as well as transit riders, to explore holistic solutions. Areas of focus included:
- Enhancing personal security and addressing perception of crime on transit
- Incorporating transit-specific strategies into social services initiatives
- Creating safer, more welcoming environments in transit stations and stops
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Strategies to reduce single-occupancy vehicle usage in Lake County
The Lake County of Division of Transportation (LCDOT) recently released a draft report that provides strategies and recommendations to reduce single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips in the county. In Lake County, 80 percent of trips are taken in SOVs (people primarily driving alone in their cars, trucks, and vans).
A few years ago, LCDOT initiated a study to dive into this topic further to see if there are any opportunities to reduce the number of people driving solo. After engaging the public and numerous stakeholders and researching SOV reduction programs throughout the country, LCDOT developed this draft report.
Reducing SOV trips — even by a small percentage — has shown to reduce trip times, air pollution, and carbon emissions. One noteworthy point is while commuting patterns have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic volumes have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
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The outlook for paratransit across northeastern Illinois
The Urban Transportation Center at UIC recently hosted "The Outlook for Paratransit Across Metropolitan Chicago in 2024" as part of their seminar series. The panel included CMAP's Jaemi Jackson and Nikolas Merten, in addition to speakers from the RTA, who emphasized the importance of accessibility in our existing transit system. Paratransit is a critical mobility service, and we need to ensure that it is sustainably funded, especially given the looming budget shortfall transit agencies face in northeastern Illinois.
To learn more about paratransit funding and the operating fiscal cliff, read the paratransit memo from CMAP's recent Plan of Action for Regional Transit - a report identifying both transit investments and revenue options to address the fiscal cliff while improving transit in the region. To learn more about how CMAP is increasing accessibility, please visit the accessible communities page or attend a training this spring.
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Updated guidelines for safer streets and highways
The 11th edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) features a comprehensive update to the guidelines that govern traffic control devices in the United States. Released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this edition represents a pivotal milestone in enhancing the safety and efficiency of our nation's roadways. Transportation professionals, engineers, and policymakers will find invaluable insights within the 11th edition as it strives to create a safer and more responsive traffic control environment.
For further introduction to this new edition, watch the presentation that Dean Mentjes from FHWA provided to CMAP's Transportation Committee.
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