Regional Plan For Metropolitan Chicago

GO TO 2040

Steven Simantob

University Of Arizona

GO TO 2040

The GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan for metropolitan Chicago was adopted in October 2010 (“Chicago,” 2011). GO TO 2040 is the regional plan that is meant to serve the needs of the metropolitan Chicago area. Metropolitan Chicago is a strong economic center compared to centers around the world. It has an abundance of resources ranging from open spaces, parks, waterways and trails. It also has access to Lake Michigan where water for drinking and recreation is readily available. The transportation system effectively moves people around and acts as a vital component of prosperity and jobs. The center also has a diverse workforce, which is an immensely valuable renewable

According to it, the region needs to create more compact, livable communities that are to serve as building blocks of the future development of the region, invest better in workforce and education development while at the same time fostering a conducive business climate that favors and encourages innovation and job growth by the private sector, and improve the open space and systems of parks of the regions while using measures of conservation with an aim of reducing the consumption of water and energy. Another factor that was also highlighted was planning for transportation and target transportation investments in a bid to achieve varied outcomes such as environmental protection, economic growth, and congestion reduction while also finding more efficient and sustainable ways of financing infrastructure improvements. The last aspect that was focused on was tracking the performance of the region with the intention of assessing where improvements that are meant to reach the desired future are to be

By federal and state law, CMAP is given the mandate of producing the official plan for transportation and land use for the region. CMAP integrates land use and planning for seven counties of northern Illinois and aims to align the policies and investments of the public in a bid to improve preparedness for 2 million projected residents by the year 2040. CMAP was created at a period that can be regarded as the turning point for the region (CMAP, 2010). The business community, locally elected officials and civic leaders realized that the most pressing issues can be addressed regionally and comprehensively. It upholds the traditions of the region of local control over land decisions and zoning. Its framework presents many opportunities for collaborative planning across different jurisdictions with the aim of pursuing common goals. Forming CMAP was an example of regional cooperation. The agency has since then aimed at setting high standards for accountability, collaboration and transparency. The virtues are valuable when it comes to building the support that is essential for the implementation of the