|
Priority Climate Action Plan: reducing emissions, competing for investments, enhancing quality of life
We're celebrating the release of an action plan that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also positioning communities in northeastern Illinois to compete for investments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program.
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus completed the Priority Climate Action Plan, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) collaborated on this important project by conducting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and identifying low-income disadvantaged communities.
The plan supports equitable investment in policies, practices, and technologies that can enhance the quality of life in our region. The goal is to reduce pollutant emissions, create high-quality jobs, and spur economic growth.
Up next, CMAP will work on the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Due in June 2025, the plan will provide an overview of major regional sources and sinks of emissions, develop emissions scenarios and targets, and recommend strategies to reduce emissions. Learn more about this work by watching this presentation from the March CMAP Board meeting.
|
|
A dynamic force: Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership celebrates a strong year of growth
It's time to celebrate a year of economic collaboration in northeastern Illinois. The Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) Year in Review highlights its development into a dynamic force.
The Partnership drives economic growth and advances equity across our region, and includes the seven counties of northeastern Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will) and the City of Chicago.
World Business Chicago manages the GCEP and prepared the Year in Review, which spotlights 12 months of notable achievements and milestones:
- The partnership supported job growth, helping to create and retain more than 8,500 jobs
- The partnership published the Greater Chicagoland Region Asset Map — a valuable tool that highlights our region's strengths
- The GCEP featured public sector opportunities and key wins with economic impacts — and the future is bright
CMAP set work in motion for the GCEP in 2020. Supported by a grant from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, CMAP partnered with the Brookings Institution, which helped create a shared regional framework for equitable economic development.
We are looking forward to another strong year of economic growth across our region.
|
|
Call for projects: what type of assistance is right for your community?
Communities throughout northeastern Illinois can submit applications to receive planning support to make roads safer, increase accessibility, and improve connections for all users. CMAP and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) have partnered again to host this year’s call for projects.
This coordinated approach allows CMAP and the RTA to offer planning and implementation assistance to an expanded base of eligible applicants. It 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 noon on Friday, March 22. For any questions about the application process, email applications@cmap.illinois.gov.
Discover what type of assistance is right for your community using this new guide.
|
|
Spring trainings: learning opportunities for those interested in making their areas more accessible
Registration is open for CMAP’s spring accessibility trainings. Topics include:
-
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
-
ADA self-evaluations and transition plans
-
Illinois Accessibility Code
At this point, CMAP does not plan to offer future trainings on these topics, so we encourage your community to take this opportunity and learn about improving accessibility.
Trainings are designed for municipal staff, public works staff, ADA coordinators, elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and anyone interested in learning about how to make their communities more accessible.
|
|
CMAP budget and work plan: the story of who we are, what we do, how we serve our region
Every day, CMAP serves our region in an effort to make northeastern Illinois a stronger, more resilient place to live. Our work is strategically developed in the region’s long-range plan and in its annual budget and work plan.
The FY2025 Budget and Work Plan and its companion FY2025 Unified Work Plan provide funds for the region to carry out transportation planning and programing activities and other regional planning functions for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2024.
Watch this short video that highlights our work to strengthen the region’s transportation system, economy, and resiliency to climate impacts.
And, read our informative budget document that tells the story of who we are, what we do, how we serve the region, where the money comes from and where it goes, our governance structure, and more.
|
|
Finding the best fit: fresh look for upgraded Job Quality and Access Tool
Take a look at an updated tool that compares job quality and access to a living wage by Zip Code, county, or throughout the region. CMAP has upgraded the Job Quality and Access Tool, with improvements to data, definitions, and usability. Find information about:
- Benefits
- Career opportunities
- Demographic composition
- Earnings
- Required education for an occupation
- Required experience
- Stability
- Structure and flexibility
A new layer also allows you to see access to transit. You can adjust the importance or weights of factors to meet your needs. Select a county (or our entire region) and an occupation. Then select whether you're seeking information about job quality or access. Add factors such as education, experience, and more. The results will provide detailed information about that occupation in a specific area.
|
|
Our region's vision: booklet documents northeastern Illinois' priority transportation investments
CMAP recently released Northeastern Illinois Priority Investments, a booklet documenting the highest-priority projects across the region for 2024. It reflects collaboration between CMAP and our partners at the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, the RTA, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace, the region’s seven counties, and the CREATE Program partners.
As a legacy transportation system, implementers are working to maintain historic infrastructure while meeting current challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions. The projects described in this booklet reflect efforts to improve the lives of those who live, work, travel, and conduct business in northeastern Illinois.
|
|
In with the new: Metra receives federal grant to purchase dozens of railcars
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration 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.
|
|
More affordable transit: those eligible can apply for reduced Metra fare pilot program
The RTA, Metra, and Cook County have launched the Access Pilot Program. The program extends reduced fares throughout the entire Metra system to riders experiencing low incomes. The program runs through July 31, 2025.
All Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient household members living within a six-county region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) are eligible. The pilot will use the same pricing as the existing reduced fare and zone structure in Metra’s 2024 budget.
Fare affordability is one of the many recommendations put forth in Plan of Action for Regional Transportation, including establishing and funding low-income fare subsidy programs like the Access Pilot Program.
|
|
Feeling safe on transit: regional leaders seek solutions at security summit
The RTA recently joined the CTA, Metra, Pace, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and other municipal and social service partners to host the 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
|
|
Coming soon: Illinois Economic Development Summit
The Illinois Economic Development Summit takes place June 20-21 at the Summit Chicago Conference Center. It will include networking opportunities, as well as information about best practices, trends, and strategies.
|
|
CMAP speakers help kick off UIC's Urban Transportation Center seminar series
CMAP's Jaemi Jackson and Nikolas Merten spoke on the outlook for paratransit service across our region to help kick off this year's seminar series for the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago.
The panel also included speakers from the RTA, who emphasized the importance of accessibility in our existing transit system.
The Evolution of Pace Paratransit and IDOT Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program is the next free virtual event in the series. It takes place on Thursday, March 21 and features two speakers:
- Melinda Metzger, Pace Suburban Bus executive director
- Zoe Keller, IDOT section chief, office of intermodal implementation
The presentation focuses on the growth of paratransit services in our region and a statewide initiative to provide paratransit vehicles to transit providers and nonprofit organizations.
|
|
|
|
|
