Metropolitan Planning Council

Our Great Rivers 2023 Cohort Spotlight: Expanding Access to the Chicago River’s North and South Branches

rgaunce@metroplanning.org (Rachel Gaunce) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:00:00 CST

Since 2018, the Metropolitan Planning Council has been highlighting the progress of riverfront projects funded through The Chicago Community Trust’s support for Great Rivers Chicago and the Our Great Rivers vision. So far, 25 projects have been supported by The Trust, and are continuing to make major changes throughout the river system. Learn more about these projects in MPC’s interactive story map.  Chicagoans along the lakefront enjoy easy access to the natural and cultural…

Data Points: A deep dive into Chicago’s zoning map and major zoning changes in the last two decades

ktiongson@metroplanning.org (Kris Tiongson) — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:00:00 CST

By Kris Tiongson

As part of Phase II of the Zoning and Land Use Assessment and Recommendations project, MPC and the Urban Institute will be assessing and quantifying the extent to which zoning and changes in zoning throughout history have contributed to Chicago’s long-standing inequities across seven prioritized outcomes: affordable housing, business corridors, pollution exposure, transit hubs, productive land use, groceries & healthcare, and climate adaptations. A necessary first step is to…

Exploring Zoning-Related Public Engagement | Part 1/2: Public and Community Meetings

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:00:00 CST

MPC and the Urban Institute are conducting research on how zoning and land use impact Chicago’s neighborhoods and residents from an equity, sustainability, and public health perspective. During the research process, we will be sharing what we learn and why it matters through a blog series. This blog is the second one and provides an introduction on the zoning process and public meetings. To find out more about this project and stay up to date on progress check out our webpage. …

Exploring Zoning-Related Public Engagement | Part 2/2: Designing Equitable Meetings

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:00:00 CST

MPC and the Urban Institute are conducting research on how zoning and land use impact Chicago’s neighborhoods and residents from an equity, sustainability, and public health perspective. During the research process, we will be sharing what we learn and why it matters through a blog series. This blog is the third one and discusses some best practices in incorporating equity into public meetings. To find out more about this project and stay up to date on progress check out our webpage.…

New Database Helps Unleash the Power of Walking and Biking

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:00:00 CST

Biking, walking, and rolling are more than just alternative ways to get around. They are important strategies for combating climate change and improving the safety and livability of our communities. Active transportation not only contributes to a better environment but also offers numerous health benefits for the population. As communities strive to build infrastructure that makes everyone feel safe and comfortable while biking, walking, and taking transit, they create conditions for thriving…

Chicago Region Transit Needs Reinvention

awennink@metroplanning.org (Audrey Wennink) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:00:00 CST

By Audrey Wennink

Chicago was built around transit. CTA recently celebrated its 125th birthday. The rail lines that Metra runs on have been in operation for more than a century. A region of our size and density simply cannot exist without transit. Many other regions wish they had the network of trains and buses we do and are working hard to build out their systems. In a post-COVID world, we see that we need transit more than ever to battle climate change, address economic inequities, improve public health,…

New Policies Promote Sustainable Transportation Choices

awennink@metroplanning.org (Audrey Wennink) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:00:00 CST

By Audrey Wennink

How do we make transit, biking and walking more appealing than driving so that more people embrace these sustainable transportation options? What if we could make these things better, easier, more of a no-brainer? Activities that encourage sustainable transportation choices are known as Transportation Demand Management (TDM). While we have been way behind other regions like Seattle and Washington DC in implementing these policies, this spring saw two major pieces of good news for TDM in…

How Riding Public Transit Helps Save the Penguins

awennink@metroplanning.org (Audrey Wennink) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:00:00 CST

By Audrey Wennink

There is no public transit in Antarctica. No roads, or rails or anything other than ships and air transport planes. There are, however, “penguin highways” -- brown trails between colonies where penguins waddle from one huddled group to another. And there is actually a significant connection between penguins and the buses and trains we ride in cities all over the world. Audrey Wennink Penguin Highway in Antartica Having always been fascinated with Antarctica and its…

Our Great Rivers 2023 Cohort Spotlight: Two Projects Focused on Water Quality

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:00:00 CST

Many residents along Chicago’s rivers have suffered from a lack of information about water quality as well as the inability to safely access their rivers and riverfronts.  Initiatives led by the Delta Institute and Current—two organizations funded by the Chicago Community Trust Our Great Rivers grant program—are working with communities and stakeholders to address the environmental pollutants and the water quality information gap to expand access to Chicago’s…

Latinos Continue to Drive Growth in Chicago's Suburbs: New Report Looks in Depth at Trends

dcooper@metroplanning.org (Daniel Cooper) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:00:00 CST

By Daniel Cooper

MPC partnered with the Latino Policy Forum and UIC's Great Cities Institute for an in-depth study of Latino population trends that have occurred in the region over the past decade. The report sheds more light on what has been a trend in the Chicago region for the past several decades--that is, the Latino population has been growing faster than any group, that growth is higher in the suburbs, and without Latinos, the region would be losing population. The full report is available for download…

THE MAYOR’S TRANSITION REPORT: MPC REACTS

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:00:00 CST

The mayoral election of 2023 will be remembered for its firsts. Brandon Johnson is the first mayor in a generation to come from the west side, the first mayor to have grown up grappling with systemic disinvestment in his own life. Now the new administration has released its much-anticipated transition report, Blueprint for a More Just and Vibrant City for All. Judging by the report’s ambitions, this election may also be remembered for ushering in a host of reforms and programs that begin…

The Red Line Extension will Benefit the Whole City of Chicago

awennink@metroplanning.org (Audrey Wennink) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 12:00:00 CST

By Audrey Wennink

It’s high time to build the Red Line Extension (RLE) to 130th Street. We have been talking about this for more than 50 years. To make it happen, the Chicago City Council should approve the RLE Transit Facility Improvement Area, or Transit TIF. Put simply, MPC supports this Transit TIF because it will provide rapid transit in an area of the city that has long-awaited transportation investment. It will connect people to jobs and amenities throughout the city and reduce travel times to…

Walking the Talk in Brookfield

awennink@metroplanning.org (Audrey Wennink) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:00:00 CST

By Audrey Wennink

Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is for everyone because transportation impacts everyone. Communities that implement plans for active transportation are seeing positive community outcomes from increased sustainable, safe, and healthy options for people to travel, especially for children, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with lower incomes. Improving conditions for biking and walking is key to creating healthier and vibrant communities and opportunities for mental…

Improving Latino Jobs Must be a Focus for the State of Illinois

dcooper@metroplanning.org (Daniel Cooper) — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 12:00:00 CST

By Daniel Cooper

Latino workers were one of the groups hardest hit by the COVID pandemic, and now nearly three years in, amid worker shortages, Latinos continue to fill essential positions, often with low-wages, no benefits, and few protections. As the State of Illinois looks to lead the nation in policies and planning for the future of work, improving quality job access for Latinos is critical area of need. Ensuring equitable jobs for Latinos is good for families and for the overall health of our economy.…

Improving Chicago's Access to Quality Jobs

asinger@metroplanning.org (Alec Singer) — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:00:00 CST

By Alec Singer

Neighborhoods across the city of Chicago are home to significant pools of skilled workers, with communities like Chicago Lawn and Irving Park each boasting labor forces exceeding 50,000 Chicagoans. While these ZIP codes have substantial concentrations of workers, they are not as concentrated with jobs. As the state of Illinois' economic engine, the Chicago region must confront the outcomes of our legacy of systemic disinvestment and marginalization of communities of color. As explored in the…

The missing component in water service regionalization debates: equity

jkeller@metroplanning.org (Justin Keller) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 12:00:00 CST

Regionalization is a common recommendation for water systems seeking to improve economic and operational efficiency in delivering an essential resource: water. While a robust debate continues over its merits and weaknesses, there has been little attention paid to the potentially racially disparate impacts of water service regionalization. In this blog post, we offer preliminary thoughts on the equity implications of water service regionalization. After providing an overview of…