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Submit project applications before next Friday's deadline
Communities in northeastern Illinois have until noon Friday, March 22, to submit applications for planning support provided by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).
The technical assistance available under this year’s call for projects can help communities make roads safer, increase access, and improve connections for all users. Communities can apply online. The brief application covers different program offerings and asks interested applicants a series of questions to identify their goals and strategies for projects.
For any questions about the application process, email applications@cmap.illinois.gov.
CMAP and the RTA work together to host a call for planning assistance each year. The coordinated approach allows both agencies to offer planning and implementation assistance to an expanded base of eligible applicants. It also aligns all efforts 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.
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Make no small plans | Project highlights |
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 From left to right: Engaging with members of the public about the Calumet City plan at the Jesus Shepherd of Souls Parish's Shepherd's Fest, as well as the Calumet City School District 155's Back-to-School bash at Wentworth Intermediate School.
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Calumet City Subarea Plan
Over the last year and a half, Calumet City, alongside CMAP and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), has been creating a community-centric subarea plan — a plan for a specific geographic area within the municipality — with goals to improve transportation, minimize local flooding and stormwater management, and create commercial streets that are more accessible and attractive to both people and business owners.
As the plan nears finalization, CMAP and the MWRD, in cooperation with Calumet City’s 1st and 5th wards, will hold a joint town hall on Monday, March 18th at the Jesus Shepherd of Souls Parish's gymnasium at 768 Lincoln Ave in Calumet City, starting at 6 p.m. The event will give the community an opportunity to review and provide input on the subarea plan. All are welcome!
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 From left to right: workshop participants provide feedback on the types of businesses they would like to see along Grand Avenue; a fun coloring activity for youth; and a mapping exercise where participants were invited to place a dot where they live and where they like to visit along Grand Avenue.
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Franklin Park Grand Avenue Corridor Plan
CMAP is partnering with the Village of Franklin Park to create a plan to transform Grand Avenue into a safe, accessible, and thriving corridor. The study area focuses on Grand Avenue from Mannheim Road to Elm Street. Recently, community members joined CMAP for a workshop to discuss their vision for the future of Grand Avenue, including the types of businesses that they would like to see, where unsafe intersections are located, and much more.
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 From left to right: The CMAP project team with Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts at the community's Valentine's Day Bingo event, as well as at the Dixmoor Social Club event. CMAP spoke with and collected survey responses from community members.
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Dixmoor capital improvement plan
CMAP is working with the Village of Dixmoor to develop a capital improvement plan to help guide and prioritize large capital and infrastructure improvements over the next five years. The project includes training workshops that will equip Dixmoor staff and elected leaders with the tools to implement and update the capital improvement plan. Community input is an essential component of the planning process and will influence which projects will be included in the final plan.
Also, the Dixmoor capital priorities survey is open now and we’re interested in your thoughts! Live or work in the community? Take this brief survey by April 26th to help guide Dixmoor's future.
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 From left to right: The Chinatown wayfinding project shows efforts to improve wayfinding; the MidAutumn Festival where CMAP engaged with community members; and an open house where CMAP presented and community members project feedback.
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Chinatown NEXT project
The Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) was awarded technical assistance to implement two of their past CMAP plans – the Community Vision Plan and the Parking Study. Three priority areas arose to be tackled during the NEXT project: (1) Bike/ped safety; (2) Wayfinding improvements; and (3) an implementation resource guide. CMAP is working closely with the CBCAC, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development to coordinate implementation, funding, and resource allocation. CMAP is also creating interim deliverables, as well as a final transition plans, to set Chinatown up for success once the project concludes. The project is 16-months long and is expected to conclude by September 2024.
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Diamond pavement management projects
Located along the I-55 interstate corridor near the border between Will and Grundy counties, the Village of Diamond is poised for future growth not just through commercial traffic but also traffic on local streets. Through a technical assistance award in 2023, Diamond developed a pavement management plan and PAVER software to assist in year to year budget and work prioritization. They also received a digital laser-assisted scan of local street network conditions. The pavement management plan and the PAVER system will help the village identify immediate pavement repair needs and will also assist in new and recently constructed surface preservation.
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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.
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