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Big plans, bright future — creating a stronger region
Northeastern Illinois' future is bright. From a railway project that will improve safety to a closer look at the vision that will shape our region for years to come, we're highlighting big plans and the work that'll bring them to life.
In this edition, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP):
- Spotlights a groundbreaking project that will make a huge difference in our region's railway system
- Invites you to a public hearing to learn more about the Regional Transportation Plan
- Highlights every session (so far) of the Catalyst Series, helping shape The Century Plan
- Shows you the way to workshops, webinars, and surveys that provide opportunities to learn about, explore, and weigh in on important topics
We appreciate you taking the time to read the CMAP Update. We also have dedicated newsletters for topics like The Century Plan, regional economy, transportation, planning, climate, data updates, and more. Sign up now to discover our newsletters.
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Breaking ground on a safer crossing: GS11 project will eliminate delays, improve efficiency
Local, regional, and state leaders helped break ground on a project that will eliminate daily rail-related delays, enhance safety, and help people and goods move more efficiently through the region.
The Columbus Avenue and Belt Railway Company of Chicago Grade Separation project (GS11) will improve a crossing that experiences 11,500 vehicles a day — saving 36,800 hours each year.
CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman served as emcee for the GS11 groundbreaking. Part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, the project will separate roadway and rail traffic at Columbus Avenue while advancing a safer, more reliable transportation network in one of the nation’s most important freight hubs.
➤ Who attended?
Many leaders celebrated this milestone, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner William Cheaks Jr., Aldermen Derrick Curtis and David Moore, Jason Osborn of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Lori Lypson of the City of Chicago, and Belt Railway Company of Chicago President Jerry Peck.
➤ How will it help?
This project means fewer delays for workers traveling to their jobs and more reliable access to local businesses. And trains will no longer will stand between emergency vehicles and those who need urgent assistance.
➤ What is CREATE?
The CREATE Program is a model for successful regional partnership. For more than 20 years, this first-of-its-kind public-private partnership has worked together to advance a coordinated program for rail, roadway, signal, and grade-separation improvements across our region.
🖥️ Read more about the project
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You're invited: public hearing for the draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan
CMAP will host a public hearing for the draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) on Thursday, August 6, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at CMAP’s office in the Old Post Office. Community members, partners, and stakeholders are invited to learn more about the draft plan and provide comments on the region’s long-range transportation priorities.
💡Register for the public hearing
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Shaping The Century Plan: different voices help prioritize what northeastern Illinois needs to thrive
CMAP's Catalyst Series is directly shaping The Century Plan, a long-term vision for a better, stronger northeastern Illinois.
On behalf of the region, CMAP is leading this initiative, which invites voices across government, civic spheres, business, and communities to prioritize what the region will need to thrive decades into the future.
Through the Catalyst Series, we've explored:
➤ Driving change: a regional dialogue on transportation for the next century, which focuses on northeastern Illinois' transportation infrastructure and the significant challenges it faces in the future, as well as how regional leaders are coming together to plan for solutions.
➤ Great Lakes, high stakes: managing our water advantage, part of Chicago Water Week and presented by Current, which discusses the advantage that Lake Michigan gives our region: abundant, clean drinking water that has powered our growth and shaped our identity. But threats loom over the next several decades, and we must work together to solve them.
➤ Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago, which outlines a practical pathway to a more sustainable future. Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions will also depend on regional leaders' collective action and efforts.
➤ Planning and navigating tensions in the new industrial age, which gives the region a lot to build and plan for as development expands and accelerates across northeastern Illinois. This robust discussion covers land use and the work and coordination needed to ensure that our region grows and thrives.
➤ Housing Lake moves from conversation to commitment, as Lake County leads the way through a collaborative approach to housing challenges. Stakeholders from across public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors listen, learn, and build a shared vision for the future of Lake County’s housing.
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Technical assistance: communities working on plans for more accessible streets and sidewalks
Communities across northeastern Illinois are taking important steps to make sidewalks, crossings, and other public spaces safer and more accessible for people of all abilities.
With technical assistance from CMAP, five communities recently completed Americans with Disabilities Act public right-of-way self-evaluations and transition plans:
- Elgin
- Glen Ellyn
- Libertyville
- Warrenville
- Woodstock
➤ What is a public right-of-way self-evaluation and transition plan?
These plans identify barriers within each community’s pedestrian infrastructure and provide practical roadmaps for addressing them over time.
➤ CMAP’s accessibility work across the region
CMAP is also assisting Waukegan, South Elgin, Lynwood, and Channahon with accessible community plans.
And five more communities were selected for ADA public right-of-way self-evaluation and transition plan assistance through CMAP’s 2026 call for projects:
- Bannockburn
- Berkeley
- East Dundee
- Franklin Park
- Monee
Together, these completed, ongoing, and newly awarded projects represent steady progress toward a region where people of all ages and abilities can travel safely, independently, and conveniently.
🖥️ Learn more details about the completed plans
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Shaping places, shaping futures: students learn about urban planning through CMAP’s FLIP program
High school students learned about how planning shapes the places we live in and move through — from planners, community partners, and local experts — during the 17th annual Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program.
FLIP is a leadership development opportunity offered every summer, providing a chance for students to immerse themselves in the world of urban planning.
Daily topics included:
- Considering how infrastructure shapes communities
- Developing academically and professionally
- Seeing how megadevelopments influence communities
- Thinking like a planner
- Understanding climate impacts
Through hands-on activities and site visits across the region, students saw how thoughtful planning can improve communities. And they learned how they, as future leaders, can contribute to shaping what comes next for northeastern Illinois.
💡Read more about the 2026 FLIP experience
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Faces of the RTP: Ben relies on public transit not just for convenience, but for independence
In the final installment of Faces of the RTP video series, Ben shares a local perspective on why transportation planning matters and how the choices we make today can shape safer, more connected, and more reliable travel across the region.
His story helps bring the RTP to life by grounding the plan’s goals in the everyday experiences of people who rely on northeastern Illinois’ transportation system.
💻 Watch the video
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Workshops, webinars, and surveys |
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Planning for a more efficient transportation system
Phase two of the My Daily Travel regional travel survey is underway. As travel behaviors change and technologies evolve, transportation planners can use survey results to guide future investments and prioritize improvements for a more efficient transportation system.
➤ Check your mail: If you receive an invitation to participate, please visit MyDailyTravelSurvey.com to learn more and complete the survey. Keep an eye on your mailbox now through spring of 2027! Participants who complete the survey will receive a gift card for their time.
➤ Phase one results: Curious about what we learned during the first phase of the survey? Read our analysis of the phase one results to see how travel habits across the region are already shaping our planning efforts.
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How does Illinois prepare for growing groundwater demands? Register for next workshop in CMAP series
As communities face growing water demand, Illinois has an opportunity to strengthen how new high-capacity groundwater withdrawals are evaluated and managed.
Join CMAP for the next Shared Waters, Shared Future workshop — Strengthening Illinois' high-capacity well impact review process — on Thursday, September 10.
➤ September workshop focus
This workshop will provide an overview of Illinois’ current framework and highlight approaches used in other states. Participants will explore options for strengthening Illinois’ approach to high-capacity well review.
➤ Shared Waters, Shared Future
CMAP's workshop series helps the region protect our water supplies and be more water efficient.
➤ What's coming up
Water governance and management in Illinois can be a tricky subject. In CMAP’s final workshop — on November 12 — you’ll learn about agency roles, governance gaps, and opportunities for stronger statewide coordination.
💧Join the September 10 workshop
💧Join the November 12 workshop
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Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program webinars: walkthrough, Q&A sessions, and more
The Active Transportation Alliance, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), is hosting a statewide webinar series for the 2026 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP).
➤ Webinar remaining schedule:
- August 12: Application walkthrough, scoring criteria, and Q&A
- September 16: Q&A with IDOT staff members
The 2026 ITEP will provide approximately $157 million for projects that provide and support connected alternate modes of transportation that are safe for all users; enhance the transportation system through preservation of visual and cultural resources; and improve quality of life. The application cycle runs through October 5.
🖥️ Learn about the program
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Talk to IDOT: surveys offer opportunities to be heard
IDOT is looking for feedback about safety, road conditions, ice and snow removal, planning priorities, electric vehicles, and more.
➤ Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan
Share your opinion on a data-driven plan that helps guide strategies to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on Illinois roadways. IDOT is updating the Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan and is seeking feedback through Friday, August 14.
🖥️ Take the survey
➤ Traveler Opinion Survey
IDOT is also asking for feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s performance through the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Since 2000, this survey has helped IDOT record and track performance and public satisfaction levels on a variety of transportation issues. Please respond by Tuesday, Aug. 11.
🖥️ Take the survey
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Celebrating "blueprints" and honoring public servants: last call for APA-IL awards nominations
The submission deadline for the 2026 American Planning Association Illinois Chapter (APA-IL) Awards is 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, August 7.
➤ Project awards celebrate exceptional "blueprints" from comprehensive and strategic plans to tools advancing diversity and grassroots social change:
- Advancing Diversity and Social Change
- Best Practice
- Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan
- "Make No Little Plans"
- Strategic Plan
- Student Project
➤ Service awards honor the architects of the profession — advocates, emerging planners, and lifetime achievers pouring their hearts into public service:
- Distinguished Service or Contribution
- Emerging Planner
- Lifetime Achievement
- Most Valuable Planner
- Planning Advocate
🏆 Learn more and nominate today
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Ready to be EV Ready? Metropolitan Mayors Caucus seeks next cohort
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus EV Readiness Program is seeking the next cohort of municipalities that will work to advance transportation electrification.
➤ The EV Readiness Program
Since fall 2022, municipalities have been invited to meet the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure. Qualifying governments join a cohort and receive free technical assistance and training in a variety of critical areas as they work toward the "EV Ready Community” designation.
Cohort members follow a pathway toward EV Ready bronze, silver, or gold by completing fundamental tasks presented in the EV readiness checklist.
➤ The next cohort
Municipalities can apply to join the next cohort through Friday, August 14. The cohort will being work in the early fall and complete the program in spring 2027. With guidance and resources assembled by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ EV Readiness Team, municipal leaders will:
- Analyze zoning and parking codes to address barriers to EV infrastructure
- Develop clear permitting for EV charging infrastructure
- Engage their communities
- Participate in technical and safety training for staff members
⚡Apply for the next cohort
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