The release of Chicago Metropolis 2020’s Plan comes with a call to change transportation and land use policy in the region.
On March 4, 2003, the two-year effort of Chicago
Metropolis 2020 to chart a better course for growth in northeastern Illinois was
finally revealed. The Metropolis Plan: Choices for the Chicago Region identifies the challenges that will become more severe over the next 20 years if changes are not
made in the way the Chicago region plans for growth and development. The
Plan identifies the lack of viable transportation options in many communities and
the mismatch between where new jobs are located and where workers can afford to live as
two potential threats.
It looks at near-term challenges — like an overburdened and
congested roadway network — and presents potential solutions —such as
making use of the existing transportation infrastructure so that multi-unit
dwellings are in walking distance of rail stations.
With the population expected to grow by 1.6 million over the next three decades, accompanied
by exponential growth in the job market and daily vehicle travel, the
Metropolis Plan examines the effectiveness of the Chicago region and Illinois'
current policy making institutions, citing the need for greater coordination among
local jurisdictions and regional planning organizations. The Plan presents
an alarming “business as usual” scenario by applying growth trends at
current densities to what has been forecasted for 2030. These demonstrate that a
greater emphasis needs to be placed on coordinating transportation and land
use.
The Plan concludes with recommendations to address the region’s current
challenges adding that while it appears to be ambitious, “so were the many other
projects that have made Chicago the robust and attractive region that it is
today.”
Chicago Metropolis 2020 is a co-leader of Business
Leaders for Transportation. For more information contact Jim LaBelle
at 312.332.8156.