As the first week of Olympic competition comes to a close, rain is clearing the skies over Beijing – but not before a flurry of attention to air pollution from media across the globe. In his blog, Steve Cohen, executive director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, in New York City, said, “It is clear that the organizers of this year's Summer Olympic Games understood that the success of Beijing's Games was closely connected to the quality of the local environment. Cities around the world are learning that in addition to great restaurants, exciting night life, and inspiring cultural opportunities, both residents and visitors expect cities to provide the air needed to breath.”
In Chicago, of course, we are asking how our air quality will help or hurt our bid for the 2016 Games. Two of our competitors rank better than Chicago, and activity is already underway to reduce the region’s carbon emissions.
Where We Stand
MPC supports a wide range of efforts and ideas to slow damage to the environment. However, most “green” initiatives, especially those related to driving, overlook the fact that how much people drive – and idle in traffic – is a huge detriment to air quality.
According to MPC’s Moving at the Speed of Congestion report, released on Aug. 5, “Overall, the environmental cost of congestion is estimated at approximately $33 million a year. Automobiles produce pollution whenever operating, but emit noxious fumes at a higher rate when traffic slows and driving patterns include increased cycles of acceleration and braking.” In other words, land use patterns that limit travel options and force people to drive – even if they’re all in fuel-efficient hybrids – have huge time, money, and environmental costs.
MPC believes any plan to reduce the impact of climate change in the Chicago region is incomplete without measures to reduce the number of miles people need to put on their cars each day … promoting walkable, mixed used communities and alternative modes of transportation are just as much an environmental issue as producing alternative sources of fuel.
To learn more about Chicagoland's traffic dilemma, read Moving at the Speed of Congestion.
Project Progress Report
Moving at the Speed of Congestion
On Tuesday, Aug. 5, MPC released its latest report, Moving at the Speed of Congestion. This report quantifies the cost of traffic gridlock to the Chicago region: $7.3 billion a year – nearly twice previous estimates – in lost time, fuel, and environmental damages. The majority of this is attributed to lost time, which costs the region more than 20 times the price of wasted fuel. For every hour a driver sits in rush-hour traffic in the Chicago region, he or she loses $14.76. That adds up to $1,579 a year – enough to fill up the average car's gas tank 25 times!As metropolitan Chicago continues to grow in population and attract new industry, it is imperative that act now to alleviate congestion. The report showed that congestion is a dynamic regional problem – and that must be solved regionally to avoid just shifting traffic from highways to arterials. “Excess congestion has infected the entire region’s transportation network,” said MarySue Barrett, MPC President, “and everyone from Kane to Cook should support and invest in solutions." Now that we understand the problem, let’s work together to find a solution.
MPC did our part to focus media attention on transportation solutions in Chicagoland. Visit our newsroom for current coverage of Moving at the Speed of Congestion >>
Listen to an audio recording of the Moving at the Speed of Congestion >>
MPC Headlines
A sampling of new articles on MPC’s Web site.
MPC Launches the Lawndale Corridor Development Initiative
More than 100 Lawndale residents participated in the Lawndale Corridor Development Initiative this summer to plan for viable future development along Ogden Avenue.
For more information on the MPCS’ Lawndale CDI>>
Reconnecting Neighborhoods: The Homestretch
MPC’s Reconnecting Neighborhoods project enters the final months of its year-long public planning process to attract more retail and better transit services to three mixed-income communities.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods’ current draft recommendations are available for viewing and commentary online at reconnectingneighborhoods.org.
Support Our Work
Balanced development is integral to improving our economy and air quality, especially as Chicagoland looks to secure a successful 2016 Olympic bid. By focusing on sensible growth challenges and opportunities — such why traffic congestion costs every rush-hour driver nearly $1,700 per year, how transportation makes up two-thirds of the carbon emissions that accelerate climate change, and how you can use MPC’s tools to create great places in your community — MPC directly affects the competitiveness and livability of the entire metropolitan region. Care about these issues? Want to help? Click here to donate to MPC’s efforts. Click here to donate to MPC’s efforts.
Re-connection is generously sponsored by:
John and Kathleen Buck
Upcoming events
In the News
Available on MPC's Web site:
Mass transit key to unclogging roadsDaily Herald, 8/6/2008
News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett
Chicago Tonight, 8/5/2008
Report: Congestion costs Chicago area $7.3 billion
Forbes 8/6/08
Congestion Costs Chicago $7.3 Billion Per Year
Streetsblog, 8/13/08
Will Co. leads the way in exporting workers, traffic
The Herald News, 8/5/08
Available online for a limited time:
Americans cut back on driving at start of summer as gas prices peaked
Chicago Tribune, 8/13/2008
Neighborhood progress
Chicago Tribune, 7/19/2008
Smart Growth: The good news about high gas price
Washington Post, 8/11/2008
Chicago Has Shoulders Broad Enough to Host Games
New York Times, 8/13/2008
Re-Connection past issues
February 2008 Vol 1 Issue 1March 2008 Vol 1 Issue 2
April 2008 Vol 1 Issue 3
May 2008 Vol 1 Issue 4
June 2008 Vol 1 Issue 5
July 2008 Vol 1 Issue 6
Re-Connection is MPC's new monthly e-newsletter. Tell us what you think. Email reconnection@metroplanning.org with feedback in the subject.
To subscribe, email reconnection@metroplanning.org with subscribe in the subject.
To stop receiving this newsletter visit metroplanning.org/unsubscribe.asp?
EmailMsgId=13
&email=
Email design by Webitects
Metropolitan Planning Council | 140 S Dearborn St | Suite 1400 | Chicago, IL 60603Phone (312) 922-5616 phone | (312) 922-5619 fax | reconnection@metroplanning.org
Copyright © 2024 Metropolitan Planning Council. All rights reserved.
To stop receiving this newsletter visit metroplanning.org/unsubscribe.html?EmailMsgId=13&email=