Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Name	Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Abbreviation	CMAP
Formation	2005
Region served	Chicago metropolitan area
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Leader title	Executive Director

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is the metropolitan planning organization and comprehensive regional planning agency for the Chicago area, created to coordinate land use, transportation, environmental, and economic strategies across northeastern Illinois. It serves the counties and municipalities within the region and works with a wide array of public and private institutions to implement the long-range plan called GO TO 2040 and its successor. CMAP operates at the intersection of urban policy, transportation investment, and regional sustainability and collaborates with civic groups, academic centers, and federal partners.

History

CMAP was established through state legislation following deliberations among policymakers in Illinois General Assembly, municipal leaders from City of Chicago, and county executives from Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Illinois, McHenry County, and Kane County, Illinois. Its founding reflected recommendations from civic organizations such as the Metropolitan Planning Council and scholarly analysis from institutions like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Early planning documents referenced federal frameworks from the United States Department of Transportation and regional precedents set by agencies in New York Metropolitan Transportation Council and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York). CMAP's initial long-range plan, GO TO 2040, was developed with partners including Chicago Transit Authority, Metra (railroad), and Pace (transit), drawing on research from the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Organization and Governance

CMAP's governance structure involves a board comprised of elected officials from the Chicago City Council, county boards such as Cook County Board of Commissioners, and representation from regional planning partners including Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Council of Mayors (Chicago area), and transit agencies like Metra and Chicago Transit Authority. The agency's policy committees interact with technical advisory groups populated by staff from municipal planning departments in cities like Evanston, Illinois, Aurora, Illinois, and Joliet, Illinois. Oversight and auditing engage state entities such as the Illinois Governor's office and the Illinois General Assembly, while federal compliance is coordinated with the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. CMAP's executive leadership has included professionals with experience in organizations such as the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois) and academic affiliations with DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago.

Planning and Programs

CMAP produces comprehensive plans and programs addressing transportation investment, land use coordination, and environmental resilience, aligning with policy goals advocated by groups like the World Resources Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, and American Planning Association. Major initiatives have involved transit planning with Chicago Transit Authority and Metra, active transportation projects linked to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and freight planning referencing corridors serving the Port of Chicago and Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE). Housing and economic development efforts intersect with local agencies such as Chicago Housing Authority and regional chambers like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's partners, and coordinate with workforce programs run by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. Environmental programs draw on collaborations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago Wilderness, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Regional Data and Modeling

CMAP maintains regional data systems and travel demand models that are informed by datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, National Household Travel Survey, and traffic data from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Modeling work incorporates land use inputs from county assessors such as the Cook County Assessor and municipal GIS departments in municipalities like Naperville, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. CMAP's analytical products support freight studies connected to the Association of American Railroads and aviation planning related to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. The agency's data partnerships have included academic collaborations with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, and research centers like the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.

Funding and Budget

CMAP's budget derives from federal transit and highway planning funds administered by the United States Department of Transportation and matching contributions from the State of Illinois and local counties including Kane County and Will County, Illinois. Grant funding streams have included awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and philanthropic support from foundations such as the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Lilly Endowment. Budget oversight involves the Illinois Auditor General and coordination with regional funding partners like the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois), Chicago Transit Authority, and county governments. Financial reviews often reference fiscal guidance from the Government Accountability Office.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

CMAP engages with a broad network including municipal governments such as the City of Chicago and suburbs like Skokie, Illinois; transit agencies including Metra (railroad), Chicago Transit Authority, and Pace (transit); civic organizations like the Metropolitan Planning Council and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; environmental coalitions including Openlands and Chicago Wilderness; and academic partners including University of Chicago and DePaul University. Stakeholder engagement processes have involved community groups in neighborhoods like Pilsen, Chicago, Bronzeville, Chicago, and Rogers Park, Chicago. CMAP participates in regional coalitions with entities such as the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and cross-jurisdictional studies with agencies including the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways.

Impact and Controversies

CMAP's work has influenced transportation investments affecting projects like expansion at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and CREATE rail improvements, and land use decisions in suburban centers such as Schaumburg, Illinois and Naperville, Illinois. The agency's plans have been praised by academic analysts at Northwestern University and advocacy groups like the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois)'s supporters, while attracting criticism from some municipal leaders and interest groups over regional mandates and funding priorities, including disputes involving the Illinois General Assembly and county boards. Controversies have also arisen around data assumptions compared with studies from University of Illinois Chicago researchers and disagreements with highway project proponents represented by organizations such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. CMAP continues to navigate tensions among federal agencies like the Federal Highway Administration, state officials including the Illinois Governor, local elected bodies, and community stakeholders.

Category:Regional planning organizations in the United States