CMAP

By Ellen Steinke

According to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the region's metro planning organization, northeastern Illinois has recently seen an uptick in traffic crash deaths. They've joined forced with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTh) and the Chicago Department of Transportation on the Cook County Safety Action Plan. That's part of Safe Travel for All, a region-wide effort to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on local roads. They're hosting community meetings to spread the word about new initiatives, hear about residents' experiences with traffic hazards.

CMAP providing technical assistance to improve transit for people with disabilities. But looming budget gap threatens service systemwide.

A number of advocacy organizations are urging Chicagoland regional transportation agencies to halt plans to add additional lanes to expressways and arterial streets.

The survey gauged close to 2,500 northeastern Illinois residents’ attitudes toward key quality of life factors, such as transportation, open space, and housing, and what they considered successes and challenges across the region.

CMAP looked at the ways in which transportation fees, fines, and fares impact low-income residents and policy changes that can increase equity.

Data analyzed by CMAP shows that the number of traffic fatalities trended upwards during the 2010. The agency is working on a new plan to reduce crashes.

A "regional rail" scheme, with more frequent service during non-rush hours, would make the network more useful non-white collar workers, as well as non-work commutes.