| | by Lindsay Banks
6/21/10 This shot was taken in Volo Bog by Irina Hynes. Volo Bog is an example of unique habitat that has been protected in order to preserve biodiversity. Located in western Lake County, Volo Bog has been protected since 1958 through efforts of The Nature Conservancy and local citizen activism; it is currently a National Natural Landmark.
A bog is a wetland formed by the accumulation of dead plant material, usually moss. The resulting acidic peat creates a biologically diverse and very sensitive habitat. This bog is significant because it exhibits all stages of bog succession, and boasts a wide variety of plant and animal life. On the Department of Natural Resources website, Volo Bog boasts that it is the only "quaking" bog in Illinois to have an open water center. In a quaking bog, the vegetation creates a layer about a foot and a half thick, that floats over water or very wet peat. Volo Bog's Visitor Center offers educational programs, trails, and picnicking. Read more about the preservation of parks and open space in our strategy paper or in the draft GO TO 2040 plan section on expanding and improving parks and open space (opens PDF).
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| | by Lindsay Banks
6/7/10 CMAP's Monday Flickr photo from our pool is a nice shot of a CTA train at the Washington / Wells station in downtown Chicago, taken by Flickr user señor_codo. Public transportation is a very important asset in our region, and a new report by the American Public Health Association released earlier this year called The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation makes this ever more obvious. From the executive summary: Our dependence on automobiles and roadways has profound negative impacts on human health: decreased opportunities for physical activity, and increased exposure to air pollution, and the number of traffic crashes. The health costs associated with these impacts, including costs associated with loss of work days and wages, pain and suffering, and premature death,may be as high as several hundred billion dollars.
The report recommends a major overhaul of our nation's transportation policies, especially by including some of these hidden costs in the evaluation of capital projects. The report also estimates the cost savings of implementing urban design policies to create walkable neighborhoods, with street connectivity ranking highest in effectiveness (after distance to central business district). GO TO 2040 also recommends taking a comprehensive approach to planning policies when thinking about future growth. The Preferred Regional Scenario advocates for more compact, mixed-use, livable communities with multi-modal transportation choices for residents, among other policy ideas.
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| Super photo! It's strange and little mystic...
Posted by: Gera H. on 06/13/2010 |
| | by Lindsay Banks
5/6/10 Finally,
there’s good news for Chicago area highway commuters! The Illinois
Tollway and US Equities Asset Management (Oases property manager), have partnered
with local farmers to bring a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to
Tollway commuters. Three farms – two from Wisconsin and one outside of
Kankakee – will offer commuters the option to buy boxes of local, fresh produce
and pick them up at Tollway oases on a weekly basis. If
you’re new to the concept of CSAs, Local Harvest.org has a good list of tips
to prepare you for the experience. Don’t expect to find farmer’s markets
at your nearby Tollway oasis– this is strictly a member-based program. A
CSA allows people to buy produce directly from a farmer by purchasing shares –
which usually involves a box of seasonal vegetables, but can include other
items. This set-up allows the farmers to spend time marketing earlier in
the year before back-breaking full days in the field, and gives the farmer a
reliable source of income.  In return, the consumer gets to eat healthy, delicious, and more sustainably-produced goods than most conventional
products. It usually costs slightly more than your typical vegetables
from the grocery store, but you pay for the value, your money stays local, and
reduces your carbon footprint. With
CSA locations at Tollway Oases, the produce can be picked up as part of your
trip home from work, saving you the time and hassle of going to the
store. If you would like to participate in the Tollway CSA, you can sign
up now through mid-May (so hurry!). I made
a map of the pick-up locations (Belvidere, Des Plaines, Hinsdale, Lake Forest,
O’Hare, and South Holland) and approximate locations of the three participating
farms – Triple A Farms, Scotch Hill Farm, and Harvest Moon Organics. Click on the image to the left to see it.
To read more
about the program, visit Local First Chicago.org For more information, contact:
Catherine Patterson, Kurman
Communications
312.651.9000 x 23
Catherine@kurman.com permalink |
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| | by Lindsay Banks
3/29/10 Today's photo, by Kymberly Janisch, was taken from Green line CTA station at 34th St. This tunnel above the McCormick Tribune Campus Center (as well as the center itself) was designed by Rem Koolhaas. The IIT student center opened in 2003 as the first building in the US designed by the award-winning Dutch architect. I like the bright colors captured in this photo of the stainless steel tube, which measures 530 feet long and serves as a muffler for the CTA trains that pass over the campus building.
Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool. Submit your photos today! permalink
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| | by Lindsay Banks
3/26/10 Do you have plans for tomorrow night? Why not incorporate Earth Hour into your plans? Turn a late dinner in front of the TV into a romantic candle-lit evening!
For one hour on Saturday, March 27th, beginning at 8:30 p.m., you can celebrate the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour with millions of people from around the world. This is the third year since its inception in Sydney, Australia as part of a global "campaign to encourage businesses, communities, and individuals to take simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis." So turn off your television, unplug your computer (and shut it down), unplug your chargers, and turn off the lights. Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 27th from 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Last year, the Sears Tower, John Hancock, Navy Pier, and Wrigley field all dimmed their lights. When I lived in a country with frequent power outages, my favorite electricity-free thing to do was to play a game of Clue by candlelight. The hour will pass and you won't even realize it! You could also take your camera out and get some good before and after shots of the skyline!
Submit photos of your Earth Hour experience to our Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool!
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| | by Lindsay Banks
3/22/10 Today is World Water Day, held annually on March 22nd to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Today's photo pick was taken in Grant Woods of Lake County Forest Preserves - one of the largest forest preserves in Lake County. Our region's wetlands serve an extremely important role in protecting our freshwater resources; they filter and clean our water, mitigate the effects of floods, and make up the habitat to a variety of plants and animals that cannot survive on dry land. More than half of the wetlands in the US have been lost to human activity and development. Without this valuable ecosystem function, we would see increases in flooding and pollution levels in our lakes, rivers, and tributaries. It's hard to believe that something so beautiful could be taken for granted! In January, the Regional Water Supply Planning Group voted unanimously to approve CMAP's Regional Water Supply / Demand Plan, created to consider the future water supply needs of northeastern Illinois and to develop plans to sustainable manage our water supply.
Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool. Submit your photos today! permalink |
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| | by Lindsay Banks
2/1/10 I chose this particular photo today because it has a bicycle and has a melancholy mood that matches mine. Last week, someone stole 4 bicycles from my basement, two of which were mine, one of which was my roommate's, and the other belonged to the woman who left the door to the alley unlocked. It is a terrible thing to have a bike stolen, so I made fliers, talked to bicycle shop owners and mechanics, posted a message with local bicycle couriers and did all that I could think of to recover them, knowing that recovery is unlikely in a city like Chicago. Someone on the Chainlink forum suggested that I investigate the Swap-o-rama over the weekend. So I went down to look for bikes, and found a guy selling a bike that looked very much like my roommate's. We checked her description with the details on the bike and everything fit except for the frame size. We did not check the serial number because we were trying to be inconspicuous, and we thought that that would alert them to the fact that we knew it was stolen. Big mistake. My roommate had given us an incorrect frame size. If it had been the same number, we would have called the police, but we figured that it was a similar looking, but different bike. We called and left a message with her about the bike, but had to leave to attend an event in Oak Park. She went back the next day and the bike had been sold. It was her bike. I can't believe we found her bike and let it slip through our fingers. Terrible feeling in my gut. Perhaps it will turn up again, but what is the likelihood of getting a second chance? Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool. Submit your photos! permalink |
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| | by Lindsay Banks
8/24/09 The photo chosen today from our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool is by Flickr user myn91. This is a photo of springtime in the Morton Arboretum, located 25 miles west of Chicago in suburban Lisle. Although it's not springtime in Chicagoland, we can still appreciate these beautiful flowers. CMAP will be co-hosting a GO TO 2040 Invent the Future workshop in Lisle in partnership with the Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 pm, in the Visitors Center. Other workshops this week include: The Field Museum, Grayslake, Palos Hills, Montgomery, and Hegewisch Public Library in Chicago. Check out our workshops page for more information, and to find one near you and have your say!
permalink  Springtime in the Arboretum
by Flickr user myn91 in our pool |
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| | by Lindsay Banks
8/10/09 The photo chosen today from our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool is by Flickr user Wayne Gunn. This photo shows the success of ongoing conservation efforts in our region. Baker's Lake Nature Preserve is an island in the middle of Baker's Lake supporting one of the most significant heron rookeries in the Midwest. It was dedicated as a state nature preserve in 1984. 
Baker's Lake is located in Barrington, where CMAP will be co-hosting a GO TO 2040 Invent the Future workshop in partnership with the Barrington Area Conservation Trust, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, the Barrington Area Council of Governments, and the Lake County Council of Mayors on Thursday, August 13th at 6:30 pm. Other workshops this week include: Avalon Park (Chicago), Joliet, Geneva, Bethel New Life (Chicago), and a youth workshop at DePaul University on Friday. Check out our workshops page for more information, and to find one near you and have your say!
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| | by Lindsay Banks
5/14/09 CMAP is excited to unveil the new GO TO 2040 promotional posters, designed by Marybeth Failla (email). I personally like them so much that I might have a couple framed! Click on the images below to see larger versions. The posters measure 11" x 17". If you, or your organization, would like some to hang or hand out, please contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn (312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov).
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Comments (5)
| Totally cool graphics.
"Have your say" should prove to be a good campaign slogan for the summer.
Double kudos.
When are the posters available?
Posted by: Administrator on 05/14/2009 |
| Thanks, Robert. The posters should be available at the end of the month, and we will be distributing them around the region and doing regular "giveaways." I'll keep you posted!
Posted by: Administrator on 05/15/2009 |
| Really amazing graphics & design! Best of luck to the campaign.
Posted by: Administrator on 05/20/2009 |
| Exceptional in concept and graphic design!
Posted by: Lois McPartlin on 08/03/2009 |
| You can order a free set of posters from CMAP! Details here: http://www.goto2040.org/postergiveaway/
Posted by: Anne on 08/03/2009 |
| | Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham series launches todayby Lindsay Banks
3/17/09 The Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham public information series debuts today in media outlets around Chicago. Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham will explore the political, social and environmental questions that are important to the future growth of this region. The annual series is made possible by The Chicago Community Trust with original multimedia programming by WTTW11, The Chicago Reporter, the Chicago Public Library, and WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. Every other Tuesday on Chicago Tonight, WTTW will present a Chicago Matters report. Tonight’s show will feature our own Randy Blankenhorn, who will discuss freight in northeastern Illinois. The show will also explore the Illinois Waterways system and its need for modernization, and Chicago Tonight contributor Christian Farr will introduce Starlight, the “internet of the future.” If you miss it, the video, along with other information will be available on the Chicago Tonight website. There’s also a great video on the 15 Global Visionaries who were voted as leaders of the region, who will “take us into the next century.” Update: video from the episode is now available! Randy will also be on Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight program tomorrow morning to talk about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Other upcoming topics on WBEZ include a discussion of the challenges that Chicago faced in 1893 when hosting the World’s Fair, a fresh look at the downtown condo market and future of development in the Loop, an interview with one of the creators of the most powerful digital hubs in North America (hint: it’s in Chicago), and an interactive timeline of Chicago history online. Update: If you missed the show, audio will be available here. We are also looking forward to The Chicago Reporter's blog from editor Alden Loury on the series, and the Chicago Public Library's reading suggestions. If you’re not familiar with Daniel Burnham, you probably never studied architecture or planning, and you haven’t yet read Erik Larson's novel Devil in the White City. Among other accomplishments, Daniel Burnham was responsible for the creation the Plan of Chicago in 1909. Drafted 100 years ago, it was the first comprehensive plan for growth of any American city. The plan called for public open space along the lakefront, grand boulevards throughout the city, and an “emerald necklace” of parks throughout the region. It was the first to recognize southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana as part of the metropolitan area. As the Burnham Centennial gears up this summer, we will be seeking public input into alternative scenarios for implementing the GO TO 2040 regional vision for metropolitan Chicago. Stay tuned for more details, and become a GO TO 2040 partner to get early notification about those involvement opportunties. Happy St. Patrick's Day! permalink |
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| | Challenges to Thinking Regionallyby Erin Aleman and Lindsay Banks
2/20/09 At CMAP, advocating for the seven-county region of northeastern Illinois can be challenging. One thing that we are learning is that not everyone thinks about challenges and opportunities in terms of a “region.” A recent publication from ActionMedia.org examines the values, perceptions, and associations that voters “apply to the relationships between different parts of metropolitan regions and to the region as a whole.” Their focus groups in various cities included a broad mix of engaged citizens from different backgrounds, with different political views, different income levels, and different locations around the metro areas (i.e. rural, suburban, city).  The report found that most people tend to view their village or neighborhood as their “community.” They generally don’t think about public policy in a regional way, and a major conclusion is that regional agencies should be advocating for change that makes things better in communities. The general public seems to find it difficult to think about development from a regional perspective, except when it comes to two issues: water and transportation. Is it our challenge to explain the complexity of the regional nature of all planning issues? Or do we frame the issues around their effect on individual communities? Every day we strive to relate to the public while talking about regional planning. GO TO 2040 is our campaign for a better region. It is a massive project that will integrate not only land use and transportation, but will also include issues that aren’t traditionally represented in planning documents. The combination of these issue areas has led us to a partnership with The Chicago Community Trust, an agency with a history of expertise in territories unchartered by CMAP. Some of these areas are education, human relations, arts and culture, food policy, and safety. To most people, things like housing, food and safety seem like very local issues. At CMAP Community Conversations people have asked why their schools aren’t better, why aging parents can’t find affordable places to live near their adult children, why there aren’t jobs close to where they live. CMAP planners are looking at strategies to solve these very local issues. We are also exploring how the impacts could multiply if many communities choose to implement these strategies. For instance, the School Siting Report findings explore the health benefits of the locations of schools. One of which states that approximately “25% of commuting trips during the morning rush hour are school related. Reducing the amount of auto and bus trips by increasing the number of walking and bicycling trips would improve air quality near schools.” Locating schools closer to communities where we live, and improving access would increase air quality and it might also remove some vehicles from the road and reduce congestion. This spring we will wrap up our series of Community Conversations and start to ask communities to talk about the choices we need to make today that will create a better 2040 for everyone. This summer, as we reach out to the public for feedback on our regional scenarios it is all about making choices, and choosing the 2040 that you would like to see. To be the first to know about when and where these workshops will be, send an email to info@cmap.illinois.gov. permalink Do you Twitter? Follow Us! |
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| | CTA and I-GO Collaboration by Lindsay Banks
1.8.09 The car-sharing organization I-GO has recently teamed up with the Chicago Transit Authority to create a card that can be used on all CTA buses and trains and can be used for entry to I-GO cars. Less bulk in the wallet! My only complaint - this is for new I-GO members only (as far as I can tell). permalink |
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| Very cool!
Posted by: Administrator on 01/08/2009 |
| |  | Photo from Creative Commons by fd |
Resolutions for a Sustainable 2009by Lindsay Banks
12.31.08 I’m going to include my own New Year’s Resolution in this list. You can try to guess which one it is. Or add your own in the comments! This post was inspired by WiseBread, Green Resoultions, Planet Green, Suite 101, National Forest Foundation, and Co-op America. One-time actions On-going actions - Always unplug electronics when not in use – laptop charger, cell phone charger, stereo, etc.
- Push comfort levels with the thermostat, even if it is just one degree each month.
- Walk or bike to the grocery store for small trips, or combine trips. And take transit when you can!
- Rediscover your city, town, or region one neighborhood at a time. Find a restaurant, historical site, or street fair to visit in every corner of your area. (Suggest cultural attractions and I'll add links!)
- Buy less stuff, but when you have to buy something new, look for greener versions of your favorite products
- Support local farmers through CSAs or farmers markets. I use Irv & Shelley’s Fresh Picks. There are also lists of winter locations.
- No more Styrofoam takeout containers. Try bringing a small Tupperware container for leftovers. People will look at you funny, but that's ok.
- Eat more veggies, less meat.
- Conserve water by catching warming-up shower water to water house plants or outdoor gardens. Another water conservation idea: Don't shower alone - shower together!
- Check tire pressure regularly to ensure proper inflation, which can significantly affect fuel efficiency.
- Compost. (You can use biodegradable plastic “Bio Bags” for your compost pile, but don’t use them for landfill-bound trash.)
- Stay involved and informed of issues and legislation involving the environment. Find out how your Senators and Representatives vote and how they score with the League of Conservation Voters.
Cheers and have a safe and happy holiday! *HINT: I posted my (still growing) list of resolutions on Gapers Block. |
Comments (11)
| Part of me is embarrassed to admit it, but I currently don't recycle at home. I live in a Chicago ward without blue bins so it isn't exactly convenient, but I am making it my New Year's resolution to start recycling. Overall, this has been a pretty green year for me-- I became a bike commuter, sold my car, and started using reusable grocery bags. My next steps: join I-Go and a CSA. Thanks for the ideas!
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| I'm guessing you're going to catch shower water to water your house plants. I am going to join a CSA this year. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| Lindsay, I am guessing your resolution is to bring tupperware for leftovers and/or composting. For New Years and 2009, I am going to eat less meat and more vegetables and join a CSA. Buying local vegetables in not only better for you because they are more nutritious, it saves on emissions from the shortened travel distance. 2009 is going to be a great year!!! Great Blog.
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| Good job Annie! Looks like CSA is popular this year. Good guesses, Erin and Amy. But not correct. I already bring tupperware to restaurants (some of the time), I already compost (in warmer months), and I really should try to re-capture shower water! But that's not the resolution that I'm going to tackle head-on. Keep guessing! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| Great list! My main goal is to cut out meat unless I know where it comes from and it's local and ethical (likely from a CSA).
My recommendations for a couple worthwhile local field trips in Lakeview: Alta Vista Terrace and the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
If you live in an apartment or condo building, you might make it a project for the year to set up your recycling program if you don't have one. Larger buildings are actually required by the City of Chicago to have a recycling program, but many don't. My building set one up this year and it has been very successful.
I might also add taking transit to work. Seems like a no-brainer, but I know a few people who have convenient transit options to get to work but are still holding on to their driving to work habit. And you don't need to get rid of your car to use transit.
Composting can even be done inside an apartment with a worm bin, which will produce great natural fertilizer for your houseplants and herbs. (You can also buy "worm castings" at some local hardware stores as a natural fertilizer for your edible plants.)
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| Thanks for the suggestions, Lee! I wasn't aware of the requirement of larger building to have a recycling program. I'll have to mention this to my boss, who said his condo building does not have a program.
And yes, the transit was such a no-brainer that I totally forgot it. Doh! I'll put it in. And I'll look into the worm-in-apartment set-up. Saw that at Green Festival last fall.
Posted by: Administrator on 12/31/2008 |
| I concur that recycling can be challenging but there are so many ways to do it that it is encouraging. I personally go out of my way, literally about 7 miles, to recycle. I also use green bags majority of the time when grocery shopping, no plastic! If Obama and White House Staff can turn off some lights at the White House then I think I can make sure I work on it.
Posted by: Administrator on 01/02/2009 |
| OK Lindsay, I am going to submit a guess, too. My guess is that you added pushing comfort levels with the thermostat. I'm going to try that one out, along with your suggestion of taking it one degree at a time. I had read somewhere to turn the thermostat down at night to 55 degrees and to add a quilt to the bed, but that sounded a little too chilly for me.
Posted by: Administrator on 01/05/2009 |
| Great Blog Lindsay and all great ideas and excellent resolutions. I'm guessing you are going to start unplugging unused electronics. Its hard to remember to do but definitely will help out - not only the environment but also your energy bill!
Posted by: Administrator on 01/05/2009 |
| I was just thinking about Resolutions for a Sustainable 2009 and you've really helped out. Thanks!
Posted by: Administrator on 01/07/2009 |
| These posts you have on the site have so much important info and the
comments are also informative. Thanks!
Posted by: Green Products on 03/15/2010 |
| | New Hybrid Bus Fleetby Lindsay Banks
12.05.08 With CTA’s recent unveiling of its fleet of 150 hybrid buses, we see the region heading in the right direction to combat greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from transportation. These new buses can accommodate more passengers while emitting fewer emissions than the older buses that sometimes spit black clouds of smoke right into my face while I bike in! I see this as a much-needed move for the CTA, though critics are saying it is not enough. To me, it seems like this is just one avenue of a multi- pronged approach that we need to take as a region. There are generally four directions that investments to reduce GHGs could take: (1) we can improve vehicle systems and operations – like reducing congestion or improving networks, (2) we can create policies to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), – like promoting walkable communities, (3) we can develop an alternative fuel systems like hydrogen or ethanol, or (4) we can improve our vehicles. But these these hybrid buses demonstrate how all these options can be knit together – improving transit and using new, cleaner technology. In our GO TO 2040 plan, CMAP will be investigating various strategies – like Bicycling, Managed Lanes and Facilities, Urban Design, and Car-Sharing – that we can take to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. We have also partnered with USDOT’s Volpe Center to prepare a report on Alternative Vehicle Technology and Fuels. We’ll let you know when that is released! Let us know how you feel about the city's investment in hybrid buses! |
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| |  Active Transportation Alliance
by Lindsay Banks
11.19.08 The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has changed its name and its mission! It is now the Active Transportation Alliance. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has been advocating for improved bicycling conditions in our region for nearly 25 years and they are now expanding to cover more comprehensive transportation alternatives that include transit and walking. From their new website: The mission of Active Transportation Alliance is to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. We advocate for transportation that encourages and promotes safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, environmental stewardship and resource conservation. I think that this is an exciting step for our non-motorized travelers. And perhaps by building a community that includes bicyclists and non-bicyclists alike, we can work at improving the relationships between the two! Many of us use all modes of transportation for various purposes and in varying frequencies. I have even taken a boat to a meeting for work once!
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| | Great Lakes Ecosystem Threatened by Lindsay Banks
11.13.08 In 1892, under the supervision of Rudolph Hering—the water system engineer for Chicago—workers began digging the Sanitary and Ship Canal to connect the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River (Chicagoist.com). This engineering effort took eight years to complete and successfully reversed the flow of the river to take sewage waste away from Lake Michigan, and our water supply. The Alliance for the Great Lakes recently released a report concluding that this century-old canal could soon become a conduit for a particularly damaging invasive species. The Asian carp has already firmly established itself in the midwest; it is a filter-feeding fish that can grow up to 100 lbs and 4 feet long, and can eat 20 percent of its body weight in plankton daily. If introduced in the Great Lakes, it would compromise the integrity of the ecosystem and could quickly lead to the collapse of our region’s fishing industry (Chicago Tribune). The fish also threaten recreational activity because they jump out of the water when motor boats pass, and can cause damage to unsuspecting boaters. Electric barriers were installed two and a half years ago to keep the fish out of Lake Michigan, but the Alliance argues that they are not enough for a long-term solution. Additionally, federal officials will not permanently activate the barriers for satefy concerns. According to the study (2 MB PDF), the Asian carp is within 50 miles of Lake Michigan—a two day swim for the jumping fish. Advocacy groups are asking the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers to conduct further studies, and act now before these invasive species cause irreversible damage. CMAP staff is nearing completion of a strategy paper on Ecosystem Restoration, and we will post a link as soon as it is finished!
Poster from Great-Lakes.org
More information on the Asian Carp: 2004 USGS document |
Comments (1)
| The Ecosystem Restoration strategy paper is posted here: http://www.goto2040.org/ideazone/forum.aspx?id=846
Also, an update finds that the Asian Carp is within 5 miles of the electric barriers!
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/state-to-wage-chemical-war-on-asian-carp-tonight.html
Posted by: Administrator on 12/02/2009 |
| |  Managing Our Region's Trash
by Lindsay Banks
10.29.08 Our recently released strategy paper on Solid Waste Management highlights the limits of our region’s landfill capacity and possible solutions for improved waste management. The Illinois EPA estimates that northeastern Illinois has only 8 years of landfill capacity remaining, so improved waste management is not just a good idea—it’s absolutely necessary if we are looking to the year 2040.
Effective solid waste management depends on an array of policies and practices that prevent waste, reuse waste, recycle waste, burn waste, compost waste, and bury waste.
November 15th is America Recycles Day and some communities in the region are stepping up their recycling efforts. Oak Park has increased its recycling tonnage to nearly 32 percent of its solid-waste stream, according to International City/County Management Association case study. Oak Park credits much of their success to financial incentives that encourage citizens to recycle and a strong public outreach campaign.
How well does your community encourage waste reduction and recycling?
Personally speaking, half of my block has the new blue recycling carts, but the half that I live on does not! The City of Chicago started its “Blue Cart Program” in June of 2008. Unfortunately, I’m just out of the current Blue Cart region, so I have to carry all my recycle-ables down the alley and sneak them into my neighbor’s bins. But at least I don’t have to drive to a recycling center, like Shana. |
Comments (5)
| I live in a Chicago ward that does not have the blue recycling bins. What I can't understand is why the city is acting as though this is some innovative program that they are pioneering and therefore have to test it out before it can be applied everywhere. This is not a new idea- it's been widely used by other cities nationwide for more than a decade. Maybe I am missing something, but for the City of Chicago to present an image of itself as one of the most cutting edge, green cities, and then not have a basic recycling program for its residents, is completely ridiculous.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/30/2008 |
| We've been recycling for years in my suburban community. As I walk to the train on garbage/recycle pick-up day, probably 80 percent of the houses have a recycle bin out front. Because education about what's recyclable isn't ongoing, some bins are full, some are half-full. (Mine is usually overflowing, resulting in paper garbage bags with more recyclables standing next to the bin.) The recycle man (yeah, just one guy) comes by, dumps the recyclables into one side of the truck and yard waste into the other, and he's gone in less than two minutes. On my end, it takes no longer to dump the newspaper into the recycle bin than it takes to throw it in the trash. Bottles and cans get rinsed (it's not required but we get ants if we don't). ALL paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic goes into the bin, including milk and orange juice jugs, cardboard from spent rolls of toilet paper and paper towels, the kids' homework from last week, old bills (shredded), even the ubiquitous cardboard-and-plastic shrink wrap most products come in these days. We're a family of five, and most weeks our recyclable trash far outweighs the actual garbage. It's not hard to do and it saves valuable resources. Who could argue with that?
Posted by: Administrator on 10/31/2008 |
| I wonder if something like this would work for Chicago...
Cash for Trash Spurs Recycling Boom:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=6274975&page=1
Posted by: Administrator on 11/19/2008 |
| Another innovative idea:
The Prophet of Garbage: Joseph Longo's Plasma Converter turns our most vile and toxic trash into clean energy-and promises to make a relic of the landfill.
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2007-03/prophet-garbage
Posted by: Administrator on 11/23/2008 |
| chicago wants to host the olympics. imagine all the garbage there that will not get recycled. why, oh, yes, chicago does not recycle. how can this be. come on, what is taking so long? testing, testing what, you have garbage to recycle you recycle it just like the suburbs do, like other cities do. what was the excuse that took the recycling of years ago out of chicago. oh, yes, this is chicago does need an excuse. in the regular garbage, there is more recycling material than regular gargage. that has to be a fact. take some of the resources that chicago has to pick the regular gargage and do something with the recycling. i know for a fact that there has to be more recycling material in each household than any other. come on, chicago, the people are hiding their heads, that this city does not recycle when all most of all suburbs do, and this city should be ashamed also. we should host an olympics when we cannot handle recycling gargage.
Posted by: Administrator on 08/20/2009 |
| | Bad News for Driversby Lindsay Banks
10.14.08.jpg "Dan Ryan") The Chicago Tribune recently reported on congestion in the Chicago region and specifically on a report that CMAP's Jose Rodriguez completed called, "Recent Trends in Northeastern Illinois Expressway Vehicle Miles Traveled" (PDF 142 KB). The report shows that residents of northeastern Illinois are driving less, but have not seen significant gains in travel times and congestion. And according to another report by FHWA, most of our day is spent dealing with congestion: "For an average of 13 hours and 19 minutes each day, vehicle speeds are less than 50 m.p.h. on at least 20 percent of the Chicago-area highway system, according to the Urban Congestion Report compiled by the Federal Highway Administration."
The FHWA report also says that Chicago, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh were the only cities that saw congestion increases of greater than 15 minutes. The Tribune cites lack of carpooling and aversion to transit as major roadblocks (pardon the pun) to reducing congestion. Apparently, we love our cars and we don't want to share them with anyone else! Any thoughts on why this hasn't changed here when other metropolitan regions have taken different directions? For more information on these findings, visit CMAP's Performance Measurement and Reporting site. |
Comments (4)
| Haven't area transit agencies seen strong ridership growth? Much of the CTA and Metra system is over capacity at peak hours, thus limiting the ability of that many more people to take them. What's more, CTA slow zones and construction on the Brown Line have made transit a less attractive option because of the resulting crowing and journey times. If money were invested to bring the CTA up to good operating condition and to expand capacity, transit could pick up more CBD market share.
The problem is the burbs is likely high dispersed origins and destinations, which make carpooling and transit difficult. This is true in most cities, however, so what makes Chicago different? It's an interesting question.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/14/2008 |
| I rode the CTA for about five years, often 2-4 times a day. During that time, I was appalled by the inefficiency, the lack of services on the south side of the city, the lack of well-trained (or even trained) staff, and the sheer incompetence of the organization as a whole. It has gotten worse, every year.
I bought a couple of motorcycles and a car, eventually, and these days I use the CTA only when forced to. It's a shame; I *believe* in public transportation, but the CTA continues in holding the city hostage with strike threats, increasing fares, and degrading service...all with no oversight. Much of Calcutta has faster, more frequent public transit options, at a miniscule fraction of the cost.
Why would I spend 2+ hours to get from Hyde Park to the restaurants and groceries on Devon, when I can drive it in less than 30 minutes?
It would take a lot of convincing to get me to consider the CTA as a regular commuting option, even from my current north side location.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/15/2008 |
| I agree, Dave. While driving is not an option for me, my bicycle has become my primary mode of transportation because transit isn't very effective from where I live. Luckily, I chose to live close to my job so biking is a viable option for me.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/15/2008 |
| I don't think expressway VMT is necessarily the best measure of overall travel trends, since most of the region's trips occur off the expressway system. That also means we can't make any generalizations about what gains or losses the region's travelers are experiencing. Even if arterial vmt declined 10%, we don't have a monitoring system and so wouldn't really have a way to detect it. Exploring gasoline sales (with consideration of vehicle fleet mix, as people shift to more efficient vehicles) would probably provide us a better overall measure of changes in VMT.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/15/2008 |
| | Sears Tower's Bike Sharing Programby Lindsay Banks
9.29.08 The Chicago Sun-Times reported today on the Sears Tower’s “courtesy bike” program. CMAP’s own John O’Neal was featured in the article: "I think it's a really important, relatively small-scale strategy for reducing congestion in the central business district," said John O'Neal, transportation planner for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, a Sears Tower tenant.
This is a great program that I have yet to take advantage of, mostly because I have ridden my bike everyday since its inception. But for my fellow co-workers who live too far to bike all the way in to work, this is a convenient, eco-friendly transportation choice to get to nearby meetings—and we seem to have a lot of meetings! Best of all, it’s free. It would be great if more office buildings had programs like this.
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Comments (1)
| A note about cycling to work - I believe making cycling a viable green alternative will take more than making the city more bike friendly, though the steps taken so far have helped. It takes greater awareness on the part of drivers unused to dealing with bikes on the street, and awareness on the part of cyclists of traffic rules that apply to them. Simple misunderstandings that routinely occur between drivers and cyclists have a tendency to keep the two sides at odds. State DOTs adding more comprehensive coverage of bicycle rules-of-the-road to drivers' tests may help alleviate this problem.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/14/2008 |
| | Harnessing the Power of Digital Media By Lindsay Banks
9.25.08 Tuesday evening I left the MacArthur Foundation in a bit of a daze after hearing a number of brilliant minds discuss the power of technology for non-profits. Some of the presenters included: Anthony Romero (ACLU), Holly Ross (NTEN), Adrian Holovaty (Everyblock.com), Kenyatta Cheese (Rocketboom.com), and Torey Malatia (Chicago Public Radio). Many discussed the power of social media resources to increase participation and engagement of audiences in order to amp up the power and reach of our own organizations. We could write a book on the myriad of topics covered –and in fact, one of the presenters sort of already has – Jeff Jarvis’ “What Would Google Do?”
Social media have revolutionized the way that people interact with information. By social media, I’m talking about blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. etc. In pre-internet days (I assume some readers still remember), there were only a handful of places to turn to for news – primarily newspapers and television. Now, tech-savvy info seekers muddle through RSS feeds, Tweet Scan, Google Alerts, Facebook postings, and favorites blogs to find out what’s going on in the world. Regardless of whether or not we like using these resources, we cannot deny that they have changed the way that information is used and collected. And just keeping up with the Jones’ isn’t always the key to success.
Not everyone is quick to change; and as such we must continue to employ traditional outreach methods to reach older populations while exploring new territory to reach a younger audience—a multi-pronged approach. Getting younger generations involved in the planning process is where our success is crucial. They are the ones who will be around to see the effects of our planning policies and actions. They have the opportunity to learn how our lifestyle affects the environment, why adding a lane on a highway might actually increase congestion, how precious our water supply is, and what we can do to create a more sustainable, healthy, and vibrant region.
It is still important in our field to continue to reach out to people who don’t have internet access, and face-to-face meetings have not lost their relevance. But I am certain that our capabilities for analysis and interaction will increase exponentially as we continue to explore new ways to collect and share data, increase the use of geo-coded content and mapping, and find ways to make these complicated planning issues something that everyone understands and wants to be a part of. We’ll just need the younger folks to tell us how to use all the new technology! |
Comments (0)
| | Potential State Park Closures by Lindsay Banks
9.15.08 Due to recent budget cuts, Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources may be forced to close 10 state parks in October and 14 historic sites in November. According to Environment Illinois, IDNR’s funding has been cut by “25 percent in the past several years and Illinois ranks last among Midwestern states in state-owned protected lands.[1]” The House has approved restoration of $221 million to Governor Blagojevich’s proposed cuts from restricted state funds that could prevent the closure of parks and prevent layoffs of hundreds of workers[2] and the Senate may vote to approve the action taken by the House or propose restoration measures of their own when they reconvene in November. Will County forest preserve officials recently passed a resolution opposing the proposed cuts and plan to discuss the measure at their board meeting on Thursday[3]. Other local groups are uniting in different ways to help maintain parks—State Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-61 of Antioch) met with park officials to help find ways for local groups to help IDNR maintain facilities[4]. The League of Illinois Bicyclists warns that the closing of one trail could result in the loss of federal funds.
Our recently released strategy report on the Preservation of Parks and Open Space presents a thorough look at the benefits our region receives from preserved green space—including improved air quality, improved public health, and increased land value. One conclusion in the paper is that parks that are not properly maintained can have a deleterious effect on property values--which would be another reason to maintain current funding levels. The paper invites readers to share their opinions on how CMAP can take a role in influencing park planning throughout the metropolitan region.
I think that it would be a shame to lose our valuable state parks and historic sites. Thanks to Life in Elgin for all the great links! UPDATE (9/24): Senate votes to restore historic sites. Now Governor Blagojevich must approve it.
[1] Environment Illinois, “Save Our State Parks.” http://www.environmentillinois.org/action/stateparks
[2] Chicago Tribune, “Just another ethics dodge,” September 15, 2008. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0915edit2sep15,0,1956853.story
[3] Chicago Tribune, “Will County forest preserve officials oppose closing state parks,” September 12, 2008. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-channahon-park-12-sep12,0,4832588.story
[4] Sun-Times News Group Lake Forester, “Lake County residents unite to save parks,” September 15, 2008. http://www.pioneerlocal.com/lakeforest/news/1164191,g3-INTparks-091508-s1.article |
Comments (0)
| | Streets to Live By Reportby Lindsay Banks
8.15.08 Where would you rather take a stroll on a nice day? A recently released report from Transportation Alternatives takes a look the value of pedestrian-friendly streets and their impacts on a number of different indicators such as land value, traffic congestion, and economic growth. The report, “Streets to Live By” (PDF), boasts some of the following facts: - Quiet streets with no thru-traffic can boost property values up to 9%
- Pedestrian zones can boost foot traffic by 20% and retail sales by 10%
- Every decibel decrease in noise level raises property values 0.4%
- Nearby community gardens increase the value of apartments by up to 7%
- Traffic-calming can raise the value of homes by one-third.
In moving toward our vision of creating a region with a high quality of life, attracting new residents, businesses and investments, our Strategy Papers have examined a number of potential strategies that we could implement to reach that vision. Several of the strategy papers that have been completed to date resonate with the findings of the "Streets to Live By" report, including the Urban Design Strategy Report, Bicycling Strategy Report, and the Preservation of Parks & Open Lands Report. Specifically, in our Urban Design Strategy Report, we researched the impacts of good urban design, how to measure it, and where different types of development (TOD, TND, Greyfield Retrofit) might be appropriate. As there is no universal acceptance of what good design entails, we stuck to the concept of the “three D’s,” from a report by Cervero and Kockelman, which are density, diversity, and design. Essentially, these translate to pedestrian-friendly streets, or Streets to Live By.
The most contentious of the three D’s has always been “density,” which sparks complaints of increased traffic, decreased parking and obstructed/unsightly views. These reactions reflect a postwar psychology centered on the automobile and the wide-open spaces to be explored. This outward migration was a direct response to the crime, pollution, and economic decline that suffocated twentieth-century city dwellers and seemed inextricably linked to the urban centers of that era.
But it seems as though that is starting to change. Popular TV shows like Friends and Sex and the City made it “hip” to live in a bustling downtown, and rising gas prices have increased that appeal. At the same time, what works for downtown New York City will not fly in downtown Naperville. We can’t put high rises across the region—and we don’t want to. But it is possible to design streetscapes that give priority to the pedestrian experience, over the car experience. And this report, by Transportation Alternatives, shows the quantitative benefits of doing exactly that. RE: Lori's comment
--To learn more about housing in Cook County we recommend the research conducted by the Preservation Compact. |
Comments (2)
| Lindsay I'm curious about urban development plans that include integrated income areas. Uptown is greatly struggling and fighting an alderman who does not believe in gentrification but also doesn't do anything to bring balance and better the community. Apparently she wants to develop the Wilson Yard as a low income housing development (2 10-story towers) in an area that already has many and is struggling with crime. What are your thoughts? Is your group working with this team? We really need help. I want to help the low income families but I also don't want my property values to plummet. How can we balance?
Posted by: Administrator on 09/02/2008 |
| Lori, you raise some very good questions. We believe that the region needs more affordable housing, but we also know that there can be negative effects when affordable housing is over-concentrated; ideally, affordable housing should be spread throughout our region. Whether or not an affordable housing project – or any development project, for that matter – is a good decision requires a depth of knowledge about the local situation that CMAP, as a regional agency that covers the entire metropolitan area, just does not have.
To learn more about housing in Cook County we recommend the research conducted by the Preservation Compact. I will add a link to it in this entry.
Posted by: Administrator on 09/18/2008 |
| | Blogging Across the Regionby Lindsay Banks
7.25.08 This blog is dedicated to the bloggers of northeastern Illinois (and some others). Below are some sites that we’ve seen from around the region. We enjoy reading about how our citizens feel about issues in their communities. If you know of others that we missed, please add them in the comment box!
Vote With Your Feet: A bicycle, pedestrian, and transit focused blog
The Elginite: An Elgin resident's blog
The Chicago Daily Observer: a blog covering a range of issues in Chicago
Chicago Carless: The Life and Times of a Former New Yorker Living in Downtown Chicago
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago blog
CTA Tattler: Information, complaints, and news about Chicago Transit Authority
Downtown Elgin: Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association
Life in Elgin: An Elgin resident’s blog
McHenry County blog
West North: A northwest Chicago blog on urban issues
Woodstock, IL blog: Sites and stories from Woodstock, IL
Lake County Blogs: Lake County events and activities
Road Dog's Road Log: Travels along Midwest highways (and historic preservation)
Move Up to Naperville: A realtor commenting on life and real estate issues in Naperville, IL
Repeat: Observations on Architecture, Culture, and more: Architecture/Preservation Blog by Lynn Becker
Chicago Suburban News: Find your local news
Lee Bey: The Urban Observer: Chicago architect and Urban Observer blog
The Skyline: Chicago Tribune's blog "assessing the highs and lows of Chicago architecture"
Mayor Willey's Elburn Web Log: Honorable Mayor Jim Willey of the Village of Elburn blogs!
Illinois state political policy:
The Capitol Fax Blog
Illinois Issues Blog
Topic-related:
http://labelscar.com/ - Retail history Blog
http://deadmalls.com/ - Dead malls and greyfield redevelopment
http://www.ceosforcities.org/blog - Collaboration of urban leaders dedicated to our nation’s cities.
A few bicycling related blogs:
Bike Traffic.org
Cycling is Life blog
Chicago Bike Blog
Chicago Bike Law
The Streets of Chicago
Windy City Biker
Transportation related:
General Carlessness
Ask Carole
Streets Blog
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Comments (4)
| Lifeinelgin.com
Posted by: Administrator on 07/25/2008 |
| Also, Elginite.org is a resident's blog. downtownelgin.blogspot.com is the blog of Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association.
Posted by: Administrator on 07/25/2008 |
| Also, Elginite.org is a resident's blog. downtownelgin.blogspot.com is the blog of Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association.
Posted by: Administrator on 07/25/2008 |
| Wow, Elgin is well represented on this list! Thanks for the link.
Here's one you missed:
http://lovinelgin.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Administrator on 09/19/2008 |
| | Bike to Work Weekby Lindsay Banks
6.5.08  IBM recently conducted a “commuter pain” survey which ranked Chicago fifth out of 10 U.S. cities for bad commutes. “Commuter pain” includes things  like commute-induced stress, time stuck in traffic, overall commute time, etc. This past weekend I used an I-Go car to drive to Lombard and was amazed at the amount of traffic I encountered on I-290 for a Saturday afternoon. It worsened when I got close to a street festival in my neighborhood, and I was so relieved when I finally got back to my bicycle. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for so many people who drive to work everyday during rush hour…something I've never had to do.
Next week (June 7-13) is Chicago Bike Federation’s annual Bike to Work Week. I highly encourage non-bike-commuters to dust off your old Schwinn and use this opportunity to see what it’s like to enjoy your daily commute. You get a workout, you feel great, and you’re doing something good for the environment. Maybe you don’t care about the environment—you’re taking a car off the road and reducing the stress level of those who are still suffering from “commuter pain.”
Bike to Work Week is a way for “newbies” to learn about bicycle commuting, taking the fear out of the experience. There will be various Commuter Stations throughout the week, including suburban locations. Also, there is a Bicycle Commuter Challenge to see which company can get the most workers biking to the office (or to a transit station). I know that CMAP has won in years past, but I believe we slipped to 2nd place last year. Hopefully, we’ll reclaim our title this year!
I reccommend Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips for people looking to get started with the bike commute. CBF also has commuting guides to help you get to work safely, smelling fresh and clean. Your co-workers will thank you.
Don’t miss our Strategy Reports on car-sharing and bicycling, where we look at the impacts that various actions could have on our region. The "Commuter Pain" chart was taken from IBM's press release. |
Comments (2)
| I have always talked about riding my bike to work but never got around to it. Until today! Fear of getting run over in the crazy loop rush hour traffic was a big part of my hesitation, but it really was not that bad. My commute took less than half the time it takes when I take the train, and it is a great way to get the blood moving first thing in the morning. I will definitely be riding to work from now on! Thanks for the encouragement Lindsay!
Posted by: Administrator on 06/10/2008 |
| I'm glad that you were inspired to ride! Happy commuting!
Posted by: Administrator on 06/12/2008 |
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