Re-Connection - January 2010

Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed that guidelines for funding major transit projects now be based on livability issues, including regional economic development opportunities and environmental benefits, in addition to the current criteria of cost and time savings.

“Our new policy for selecting major transit projects will work to promote livability rather than hinder it,” said Secy. LaHood. “We want to base our decisions on how much transit helps the environment, how much it improves development opportunities, and how it makes our communities better places to live.”

Where We Stand

MPC gives a standing ovation to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed guidelines. This innovation marks what we hope and expect to be the first wave of extensive policy change under the administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which started with DOT, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency, and now includes multiple federal agencies.

MPC celebrates DOT’s new funding guidelines as a major victory. As a practical application of the administration’s livability principles, it is consistent with the recommendations MPC and its partners, CMAP, CNT, and RTA, outlined in Advancing Livability Principles: Federal Investment Reform Lessons from the Chicagoland Experience, delivered to the White House last fall. And it could help deliver needed federal resources to projects that could transform our region, like Bus Rapid Transit.

Read more about the potential of federal policy change to improve our communities >>

Project Progress Report

MPC is proud to announce its office, located in the historic Marquette Building, has earned the designation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for Commercial Interiors. The first space in the Marquette Building to be LEED certified, MPC’s office also is one of only a few commercial interiors in a historic building in Chicago to earn LEED Gold certification.

Read more about MPC's LEED Gold certification >>

MPC's LEED Gold office space signals our leadership and dedication to sensible growth. Make a contribution to MPC today, and demonstrate your commitment to a sustainable Chicago region.

Reader Survey

MPC launched its e-mail newsletter Re-Connection in early 2008, to provide more timely updates on its work. We’d like to know how we’re doing, and how we can improve this monthly communication.

Please complete the brief survey below by Feb. 10, 2010. It should take about five minutes. We welcome additional comments via email to feedback@reconnection.org. We will respond to each comment as promptly as possible.

Headlines

New year, big plans at MPC
Just weeks into a new decade, MPC staff already has plans — big and small — for how their work will help improve the metropolitan region in 2010.

Federal incentives fueling Illinois progress
While social and economic progress never moves as quickly as policy reformers and advocates wish, the State of Illinois’ 2010 Comprehensive Housing Plan underscores how federal incentives can fuel local innovation.


January 2010	www.metroplanning.org
Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed that guidelines for funding major transit projects now be based on livability issues, including regional economic development opportunities and environmental benefits, in addition to the current criteria of cost and time savings. “Our new policy for selecting major transit projects will work to promote livability rather than hinder it,” said Secy. LaHood. “We want to base our decisions on how much transit helps the environment, how much it improves development opportunities, and how it makes our communities better places to live.” Where We Stand MPC gives a standing ovation to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed guidelines. This innovation marks what we hope and expect to be the first wave of extensive policy change under the administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which started with DOT, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency, and now includes multiple federal agencies. MPC celebrates DOT’s new funding guidelines as a major victory. As a practical application of the administration’s livability principles, it is consistent with the recommendations MPC and its partners, CMAP, CNT, and RTA, outlined in Advancing Livability Principles: Federal Investment Reform Lessons from the Chicagoland Experience, delivered to the White House last fall. And it could help deliver needed federal resources to projects that could transform our region, like Bus Rapid Transit. Read more about the potential of federal policy change to improve our communities >> Learn how federal incentives are fueling regional and state housing investment >> Download Advancing Livability Principles: Federal Investment Reform Lessons from the Chicagoland Experience Project Progress Report MPC is proud to announce its office, located in the historic Marquette Building, has earned the designation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for Commercial Interiors. The first space in the Marquette Building to be LEED certified, MPC’s office also is one of only a few commercial interiors in a historic building in Chicago to earn LEED Gold certification. Read more about MPC's LEED Gold certification >> MPC's LEED Gold office space signals our leadership and dedication to sensible growth. Make a contribution to MPC today, and demonstrate your commitment to a sustainable Chicago region. Reader Survey MPC launched its e-mail newsletter Re-Connection in early 2008, to provide more timely updates on its work. We’d like to know how we’re doing, and how we can improve this monthly communication. Please complete the brief survey below by Feb. 10, 2010. It should take about five minutes. We welcome additional comments via email to feedback@reconnection.org. We will respond to each comment as promptly as possible. Re-Connection survey >> Headlines New year, big plans at MPC Just weeks into a new decade, MPC staff already has plans — big and small — for how their work will help improve the metropolitan region in 2010. Federal incentives fueling Illinois progress While social and economic progress never moves as quickly as policy reformers and advocates wish, the State of Illinois’ 2010 Comprehensive Housing Plan underscores how federal incentives can fuel local innovation. From the Blog Open locks should lead to open discussion on Asian carp solutions Transportation solutions for cleaner air Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA) are coming up MPC releases 2010 Plan for Prosperity, legislative agenda How state’s downgraded bond rating affects capital infrastructure projects Subscribe to MPC's blog >>	In the News Subscribe to MPC's feeds for fresh content daily MPC in the News NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist: Metropolitan Planning Council: NHC Mem... FriendFeed, January 15, 2010 Illinois Water Supply Issues Illinois Farm Bureau radio, 1/13/2010 Transit Law Suit — Can it help? Active Transportation Alliance blog, 1/7/2010 Lori Healey Joins The John Buck Company Business Wire, 1/4/2010 Dirty Secret Chicago Reporter 1/1/2010 Rail congestion at issue McHenry County Business Journal, 12/26/2009 The real cost of living in your town Chicago Sun-Times 12/26/2009 Railways hubs lay down tracks for expansion Washington Post - Online, 12/18/2009 News of Interest Beyond California: States to watch Stateline.org, 1/19/10 Chicago gets $98 million to stabilize neighborhoods Chicago Public Radio, 1/15/10 Census 'road tour' coming to Illinois The Times of Northwest Indiana, 1/15/10 The South Shore Line Hyde Park Urbanist, 1/15/10 Lake Michigan water war is brewing Chicago Tribune, 1/15/10 Cleaner buses can create jobs, improve the environment Transportation for America, 1/14/10 Illiana Expressway Picking Up Steam in Indiana Chicago Public Radio, 1/13/10 MPC leadership Board of Governors Executive Advisors Sign up for Talking Transit With policy debates, legislative changes, and similar issues being tackled in other parts of the world, it is difficult to stay on top of current events in the transportation field. To help, MPC publishes Talking Transit, a useful online resource of important local, national and international news from various sources, which highlights significant events in transportation and land use. Sign up for Talking Transit. Become a Fan of MPC on Facebook Re-Connection is MPC's monthly e-newsletter. Tell us what you think. Email reconnection@metroplanning.org with feedback in the subject. To subscribe, visit our website at metroplanning.org/signup.html. To stop receiving this newsletter visit metroplanning.org/unsubscribe.html? EmailMsgId=74 &email=
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