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Happy Infrastructure Week! This month, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is highlighting major updates that show how transportation planning is moving from data and strategy to investment and implementation across northeastern Illinois.
Inside, you’ll find the latest on the draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan, emerging post-pandemic travel trends from My Daily Travel, and local communities receiving Safe Routes to School funding.
We’re also celebrating progress on major regional investments, like the CTA Red Line Extension, and sharing opportunities to learn more about transit-oriented development, federal safety funding, and The Century Plan.
Have something to share with the CMAP community? Contact me, Mike Sobczak, at msobczak@cmap.illinois.gov.
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New survey shows how regional travel habits are changing post-pandemic
CMAP's latest analysis of My Daily Travel survey data shows that many travel patterns across northeastern Illinois have remained stable since 2019 — but some post-pandemic shifts are beginning to emerge.
What we found: Midday travel between noon and 1:00 p.m. has increased, driven largely by non-work trips for shopping, meals, social activities, and other daily needs.
Why it matters: The findings help CMAP understand how, when, and why residents travel, strengthening the data that informs long-range transportation planning and investment decisions.
Of note: Residents also are taking longer trips, both in time and distance, which may reflect changes in where people live, work, and travel across the region.
🔗 Read the analysis
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CMAP is putting the final touches on the draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan, the region’s long-range blueprint for transportation investment through 2050.
The draft plan is scheduled to be presented to the MPO Policy Committee in June before beginning a 45-day public comment period, giving residents, partners, and stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in before the plan is finalized for proposed adoption in October.
Check out these videos from the Transportation Committee meeting to learn more about the 2026 RTP Financial Plan:
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Risk assessment: The RTP team is finalizing a risk assessment to better understand how future revenue, cost, and project delivery uncertainties could affect the region’s ability to implement transportation priorities.
🎥 Watch
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Road usage charge: CMAP also presented findings and recommendations from Advancing a road usage charge in Illinois, which explores how a per-mile road usage charge could provide a more sustainable, flexible way to fund transportation.
🎥 Watch
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It’s Infrastructure Week, and the perfect time to meet Jeanette!
Jeanette is president of a family-owned construction and hauling company, and sees firsthand how reliable infrastructure and freight movement support jobs, businesses, and the regional economy. She's featured in our Faces of the RTP series, and her story reflects how people behind the scenes work to preserve and modernize northeastern Illinois’ transportation system.
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The Century Plan events spotlight climate action
CMAP’s Catalyst Series continues to bring regional leaders together to shape The Century Plan, a long-term vision for a better, stronger future for northeastern Illinois.
Why it matters: The past two Catalyst events highlighted CMAP’s newly released Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago, developed with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission.
The big picture: The climate action plan recommends more than 70 strategies to reduce emissions, improve public health, support cleaner air, lower energy costs, and strengthen the regional economy.
Transportation connection: Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the region, making cleaner, safer, and more efficient ways to move people and goods central to both climate action and the region’s long-term future.
What’s next: CMAP is continuing to convene partners across government, business, civic, and philanthropic sectors to identify shared priorities, build momentum, and advance solutions that no single community or organization can tackle alone. These conversations and findings will shape The Century Plan.
🔗 Learn more about The Century Plan
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Reminder: SS4A applications due May 26
Applications for the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program are due Tuesday, May 26, at 4:00 p.m. CT. The program supports communities working to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries through safety action planning, demonstration activities, and implementation projects.
🔗 Apply for SS4A funding
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Left: CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman addresses conference attendees. Right: Erin with DePaul University Driehaus College of Business Dean Sulin Ba and Professor Nezih Altay. |
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CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman delivered the keynote at this year's Chicagoland Supply Chain Forum at DePaul University, highlighting how northeastern Illinois can build on its strong freight and logistics foundation to remain competitive in the decades ahead.
Erin discussed the region’s unmatched infrastructure assets, the future being shaped through The Century Plan and 2026 Regional Transportation Plan, and the major investments already turning plans into progress across our freight, rail, highway, and logistics networks.
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CMAP was excited to present the 2026 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award at the WTS of Greater Chicago Chapter's Recognition Awards event.
The CMAP team helped honor legislators who passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, which will redefine how transit operates in Illinois. NITA will replace the Regional Transportation Authority, provide roughly $1.5 billion in new annual funding to stabilize operations and support service improvements, and advance long-term goals for integrated fares, accessibility, and regional coordination.
CMAP received the 2025 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award for the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART).
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From our partners across the region |
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Several northeastern Illinois communities were selected for Illinois Safe Routes to School funding to help students walk and bike to school more safely.
The IDOT-administered program funds both infrastructure projects, like sidewalks and crossings, and non-infrastructure efforts, like education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, engagement, and equity initiatives.
The big picture: Highlighted regional awards include projects in Roselle, Midlothian, Woodstock, East Dundee, Algonquin, Berkeley, Fox Lake, Glendale Heights, River Forest, Cicero, Plainfield, North Chicago, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Glen Ellyn, Evanston, Lansing, Harvey, and Dixmoor, supporting everything from new sidewalks and shared-use paths to community travel plans, bike safety education, and walking school bus programs.
By the numbers: Together, the highlighted northeastern Illinois projects received more than $3.2 million to improve safety and accessibility near schools.
🔗 Learn more about Illinois Safe Routes to School
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CTA breaks ground on Red Line Extension
Congratulations to the Chicago Transit Authority on breaking ground on the long-awaited Red Line Extension, which will extend rail service from 95th Street to 130th Street and improve transit access for Far South Side communities. CMAP included the project in past comprehensive plans, including GO TO 2040 and ON TO 2050, as well as the Transportation Improvement Program, and we are excited to see this regionally significant investment become a reality.
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Metra and its municipal and railroad partners are preparing an extensive slate of improvements for the 2026 construction season. The program includes upgrades at 20 stations, the replacement of 22 grade crossings, and 3 major tie‑replacement projects across the system.
Work is also advancing on the multiyear effort to modernize track, electrical, and signal infrastructure on the Metra Electric Line, supporting future service expansion on the South Shore Line.
Beyond these major initiatives, the 2026 program features a range of smaller infrastructure investments across all 11 Metra lines, reinforcing the system’s commitment to safe, dependable, and high‑quality service for riders.
🔗 Read more
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Join regional partners on Tuesday, May 19, for a panel discussion on how transit-oriented development can support economic growth, improve walkability, reduce transportation costs, and boost ridership in suburban communities.
The event will feature national perspectives and lessons from peer regions that have advanced successful transit-centered development.
🔗 Register for Transit & Real Estate Talks: Session 2
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