Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

06/12/2026

Happy ! CMAP presenters were proud to join transportation leaders from across the region today at Transport Chicago 2026.

Throughout the conference, our team shared insights on some of the biggest issues shaping northeastern Illinois — from traffic safety and active transportation to congestion management, road usage charges, corridor collaboration, and the growing connection between transportation and the electric grid.

CMAP welcomed guests to our table to talk about The Century Plan, the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago, and the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (on the first day of public comment for the RTP).

Thank you to Transport Chicago for bringing together planners, practitioners, advocates, and partners for important conversations about the future of mobility in our region.

06/12/2026

Public comment is now open for northeastern Illinois’ draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).

The RTP will help guide how the region invests in and improves transit, roads and highways, freight, biking, walking, and accessible transportation for decades to come.

Review the draft RTP, air quality conformity determination, and FFY 2027–32 Transportation Improvement Program, and share your feedback: cmap.is/rtp

06/11/2026

Meet our , Molly Long (they/them)! Molly is a regional policy and implementation Intern.

They are a graduate student at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, where they study Computational Analysis and Public Policy.

This summer, they’re excited to contribute to climate and traffic safety planning and evaluation at CMAP. They hope to deepen their understanding of Chicago’s policy and planning landscape and explore how their technical skills can best support meaningful, data‑driven change.

After completing their degree, they plan to pursue data‑centered public policy work in the Chicago region. They believe that technical skills only matter when paired with strong policy knowledge and an understanding of the processes that drive real impact and everything they learn this summer, from hands‑on work to broader context, will help them grow into a more effective policymaker.

Fun fact: Molly is a classically trained violinist who has performed with Yo‑Yo Ma and at Lollapalooza

Welcome to the team, Molly! We’re glad to have you.

06/11/2026

We're recognizing a team that produced our first Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. The plan creates a roadmap that our region can use to reduce emissions, improve air quality and public health, and reduce regional inequities.

We're continuing to celebrate CMAP's . A lot of collaboration was required to move this project from start to finish, both internally at CMAP and with a wide array of partners across the region, state, and in Indiana and Wisconsin.

Led by Nora Beck, the team includes Aspen Walters, Austen Edwards, Claire Conzelmann, Clarke Shupe-Diggs, Enrique Castillo, Jen Moran, Jesse Altman, Joan Smedinghoff, Jules Voigt, Karly Cazzato, Kasia Hart, Kate Evasic, Katie Reigstad, Kelsey Pudlock, Lee Skuby, Martin Menninger, Matt Marth, Milo Shapey, Mitch Hirst, Natalie Kuriata, Nikolas Merten, Noah Harris, Prithvi Hedge, Russell Pietrowiak, Sam Pavlokovsky, Tom Murtha, and You Zhou.

06/10/2026

CMAP announced 26 projects awarded support through our Technical Assistance Program. Technical assistance helps communities across our region tackle challenges and build a more resilient and thriving future for all.

From planning for safer streets and walkable downtowns to boosting climate resilience and economic opportunity, these projects reflect the ambition of the region’s municipalities, counties, and partner organizations.

And they share one thing in common: a commitment to collaboration and smart, community-driven planning.

Each project is supported by CMAP staff or consultants with deep expertise and a drive for helping local governments create actionable plans.

Explore the full list of new projects: https://cmap.illinois.gov/news-updates/2026-cmap-technical-assistance-awards/

Village of East Dundee Village of Berkeley Village of Franklin Park Village of Monee City of Berwyn Village of Lake Villa Village of Winfield, Illinois Village of Indian Head Park Village of Pingree Grove Village of Richton Park Village of Summit Village of University Park City of Lockport, Illinois, Government Village of Plainfield IL - Government Village of Addison Village of Clarendon Hills

06/10/2026

Meet our , Michael Small (he/him)! Michael is a geographic information systems intern (GIS) at the research, analysis, and programming division.

Michael is a graduate student at the University of Illinois Chicago, pursuing his Master of Urban Planning & Policy with a focus on transportation.

He’s looking forward to applying his GIS skills across a variety of planning projects and hopes to see his work directly support regional decision‑making. This summer, he’s especially excited to learn how CMAP uses models and data to inform planning and policy.

After his internship, Michael hopes to continue working in the public sector, helping make Chicagoland a better region for residents, workers, and visitors.

Fun fact: Michael once traveled to three continents in 36 hours.

Welcome to the team, Michael! We’re glad to have you.

06/09/2026

Meet our , Aaron Rumph (he/him) Aaron is a travel modeling intern!

He is a Master of Urban Planning and Policy student at UIC, specializing in transportation planning.

Aaron is excited to learn how CMAP uses models to support transportation planning, land use analysis, and broader regional decision‑making. This summer, he hopes to gain hands‑on experience with modeling tools and deepen his understanding of the technical side of planning.

He plans to carry this experience into his future career, where he hopes to apply modeling and data analysis to help make more informed, equitable planning decisions.

Fun fact: Aaron can juggle and unicycle though not at the same time anymore.

Welcome to the team, Aaron! We’re glad to have you.

06/09/2026

We are recognizing a team that was dedicated to developing a sound socioeconomic forecast based in the data and in the reality of our community’s experiences.

We're continuing to celebrate CMAP's . This team included Alex Bahls, Carlos Lopez, Tess Wagner, David Wells, and Laurent Ahiablame.

They incorporated meaningful and inclusive public engagement in developing and sharing the forecasts. A socioeconomic forecast estimates the number and distribution of people and jobs in northeastern Illinois to help CMAP and our region’s communities plan for their changing needs.

06/08/2026

Coming soon: Tuesday, June 9.

You can join the Village of Franklin Park, the Federal Railroad Administration, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, and the Illinois Commerce Commission for the second Connect Franklin Park railroad project public information meeting.

Connect Franklin Park Meeting - June 9

The Connect Franklin Park initiative is a grade separation project focused on improving safety, mobility, and connectivity within the Village. This project aims to address transportation challenges related to the five at‑grade railroad crossings. The goal of the Connect Franklin Park initiative is to plan and design grade separations that reduce travel delays and enhance safety and access for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, and emergency response vehicles.

The second of three planned Public Information Meetings is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, from 4:30-6:30 PM at the Franklin Park Police Station. The Village and project team will present and gather feedback on the proposed underpass and pedestrian walkway. Community design concepts will also be available for public review and input.

To read more: vofp.com. To view the project website and make public comments: www.connectfranklinpark.org.

06/08/2026

Leaders from more than 35 south suburban municipalities came together to share their vision to keep the region thriving for years to come.

The workshop is part of CMAP’s ongoing development of , which is creating a vision for a better, stronger future for northeastern Illinois.

Together with the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, the leaders talked about regional trends, community plans, and more! Thanks to SSMA Executive Director Kristi DeLaurentiis and all who participated.