Center for Neighborhood Technology

CNT Update, March 2007

Sustainability News
1. Seattle Voters Reject Both Elevated Highway and Tunnel
2. Olympics in Chicago? How Will this Affect Transit?
3. Free CFLs from the City of Chicago!

CNT News
1. Join Transit Future Today!
2. I-GO: Official Car of City of Chicago
3. Power Smart Pricing Plan Launched
4. New Staff

CNT Toolbox
1. Event Spotlight: “Green Cities: People, Nature, and Urban Places”
2. CNT in the News
3. Job Openings

Local Events
1. Energy Efficiency Forum
2. Center for Sustainable Community Open House
3. Save the Date! CNT Tool Fair

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New Way to Support CNT!
What if CNT earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates ad revenue, about a penny per search, to the charity its users designate. Use it just like any search engine, and it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get the same great results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter “Center for Neighborhood Technology” or “CNT” as the organization you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Please spread the word!

Get started right now and download the GoodSearch toolbar: http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx

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Sustainability News
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1. Seattle Voters Reject Both Elevated Highway and Tunnel
The ongoing issue in Seattle has been how to replace the deteriorating Alaskan Way Viaduct, and it had the Mayor and Governor pitted against one another. The two major options—an elevated highway or a new tunnel—were put on a referendum ballot earlier in the month and to almost no one’s surprise, voters rejected both overwhelmingly.

This has allowed the opportunity for the so-called third option—“transit + streets”—to be seriously focused on by both leaders. In a press conference the next day, leaders met to call a truce and essentially declare defeat on their respective stances. It was clear that the implications of the vote could not be overlooked, and despite each option having political backing of both leaders, voters determined that neither was desirable for their city’s future.

This is a big win for proponents of the “transit + streets” option. The plan had been studied by Smart Mobility, commissioned by CNT and the Congress for the New Urbanism. “Transit + streets” examined the implications of replacing the viaduct with beefed-up surface streets and mass transit, and it found that this option can accommodate traffic and help the region focus efforts in creating more alternate transit options. An urban street can better respond to future transportation changes, and stimulate transit-oriented development in Seattle – at a considerably lower public expense.

Moving forward initially, about $125 million will be invested in transit, bus lanes and surface arterials to help manage traffic during construction. In the future, the solution will include light rail, streetcars, buses, biking, and walking features and, according to the Mayor, will keep freight moving efficiently and the economy strong.

2. Olympics in Chicago? How Will This Affect Transit?
The recent visit to Chicago by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) allowed committee members and media to tour the proposed site for the $366 million Olympic Stadium in Washington Park on two buses. While Mayor Daley has asserted that no public money would be used for the Games, one has to hope that there is a plan for moving athletes, visitors, and everyday Chicagoans around as seamlessly as the USOC was shuttled here and there.

The potential to highlight Chicago as a world-class city to visitors and viewers from around the world is undoubtedly appealing and very real. Perhaps even more real though is the potential for Olympic visitors and area residents to get bogged down in transportation delays and waylaid by decaying transit infrastructure. The fact is that the regional transit system, led by the RTA as the parent agency of the CTA, METRA, and PACE, is quickly running out of operating funds. Add that to the fact that if we, as a regional community, cannot come up with funds to match the $116 million that Congress provided to Illinois, than those millions of dollars will be gone (through rescissions) and our regional transit system will run out of capital funds as well.

If the legislature and the Governor fail to act on the issue of transit funding, the economy and quality of life in northeastern Illinois will be adversely affected. Operationally, safety of riders is threatened because of slow zones, faulty signals and system equipment that is beyond its useful life cycle. Service hours and frequency will be reduced, hitting off-peak and weekend service first, but ultimately, peak hours will be affected as well.

At a time when we are highlighting the region as worthy of hosting the attention of the world at the 2016 Summer Olympics, do we really want to limit our options for safe and reliable transportation?

To read more about the transit crisis in the Chicago region that CNT is responding to with the new Transit Future campaign, check out the newsletter.

3. Free CFLs from the City of Chicago!
The City of Chicago is giving away 500,000 free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) this month and during the month of April. The “Smart Bulb” program will help residents save money on electricity and protect the environment.

CFLs use two-thirds less energy than a standard bulb to produce the same amount of light, and last ten times as long. Making them available to residents through this program can demonstrate these benefits so hopefully residents will choose to replace all bulbs in their homes with CFLs.

And the large-scale benefits are significant. In announcing the program, Mayor Richard M. Daley said: “If every Chicago resident replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of more than 20,000 cars.”

The Smart Bulb Program is being conducted by the City of Chicago, the Northern Illinois Energy Project (NIEP) and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Suburban Cook County Residents can also take advantage as there will also be 500,000 free bulbs available. You can pick up the light bulbs at various places around the city, including your alderman’s office and even CNT. Just stop in during business hours (9 AM – 5 PM) and get started saving money and the environment!

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CNT News
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1. Join Transit Future Today!
Frustrated with service on the CTA, Metra, or Pace and want to take action? CNT is proud to announce the Transit Future Campaign to address the mass transit funding crisis in Northeast Illinois. Recent funding by our state government has left our transit system with severely limited operating budgets and without the means to make crucial improvements to the system.

CNT is launching a campaign of grassroots advocacy aimed at the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor to bring about real change in mass transit funding.

If you are interested in supporting the essential contribution that mass transit makes to the Northeast Illinois and our residents’ quality of life, please sign up for Transit Future’s email news by sending a blank email to transitfuture-subscribe@cnt.org. We will keep you informed of the issues, give you talking points and tips for contacting your legislators, as well as share with you the ideas and thoughts of other citizens. Our campaign is just getting started and we need your help, so sign up today!

2. I-GO: Official Car of City of Chicago
Car sharing in the City of Chicago has been well-embraced over the last three years. Residents are realizing they don’t need to own a car to run errands and get around; in fact, they can save money without the burden of owning and maintaining. And now the City has taken cue by recognizing the benefits of car-sharing and providing access to I-GO cars to its employees.

The program will reduce the number of cars the city needs to have in its own fleet—saving the city money while reducing congestion and air pollution from using low-emissions cars. The two new cars will be available exclusively to employees during business hours and after 5:00 PM each day will be available to any I-GO member. City of Chicago employees will also have access to any of the I-GO cars located in 32 neighborhoods around Chicago.

Car-sharing friendly cities like Philadelphia and Berkeley run similar programs already and have realized the benefits to the city, its employees and residents alike. Now that the City of Chicago is taking steps to “ditch its cars”, residents should follow suit and reap the benefits of car-sharing too!

3. Power Smart Pricing Launched
CNT’s Community Energy Cooperative recently launched its Power Smart Pricing in downstate Illinois, a real-time electricity pricing program for residential customers served by Ameren Illinois Utilities.

Power Smart Pricing is an innovative way of paying for electricity that can be valuable to customers, particularly those who are able to be flexible about how much electricity they use during hours when demand for electricity is high. The program gives the customer access to hourly electricity prices that are based on market prices. This means that the price you pay for electricity will vary from hour to hour and day to day according to the actual market price.

Users who select Power Smart Pricing will continue to get their power supply from Ameren Illinois Utility while the Cooperative will provide information, services and tools to help users manage their electricity costs.

Power Smart Pricing is designed to provide a variety of benefits. It offers tools that could help households manage their electricity costs. It also has the potential to help maintain electric reliability, and it rewards consumers who use energy wisely, helping to extend our energy resources.

If you are a residential customer in downstate Illinois and are interested in taking some simple actions to use electricity wisely, Power Smart Pricing could help you save money on your electricity bill. More information here.

4. New Staff

CNT is growing and filling up with excellent new talent.

David LeBreton joins CNT as the Project Manager for the Transit Future Campaign. David, a native Chicagoan, is a veteran of several electoral campaigns including Tammy Duckworth for Congress, Barack Obama for Senate and Howard Dean for President.

From I-GO member to I-GO staff! Jim Neils is I-GO’s new Operations Manager. He has more than 17 years of experience serving as the Executive Director for several national Associations for a management company, and at the University of Illinois as a Director of Conference Operations.

Matt Cunningham is CNT’s new Climate Analyst, and is using his extensive experience in analysis and economic development consulting in CNT’s Climate Change work.

We are very happy to have Nicole Friedman return to CNT, now here to help out with our increasing amount of work in Climate Change. Nicole previously managed the Wireless Community Network project for CNT.

Correction from February Update: I-GO’s Michael Neuner is actually the new Fleet Assistant; not the Manager.

CNT was sad to say good-bye to Lisa Bennett, who managed Clean Air Counts, as well highway teardown and green infrastructure projects. Lisa is moving on to get a law degree in environmental law!

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CNT Toolbox
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1. Event Spotlight: “Green Cities: People, Nature and Urban Places”
Come hear Mary Soderstrom read from her new book and look forward to an engaging discussion on the fascinating issues involving the green movement in urban environments. Her book focuses on eleven urban cities (Chicago included!) to see how people and nature have interacted over the course of history.

Listen to the phenomenon that Mary refers to as the “Green Paradox”. “So many people love gardens and greenery, but when each of us tries to claim a little bit for our very own, we end up paving over nature”.

There are two readings in Chicago: one at Quimby’s located at 1854 W. North Avenue on Thursday March 29 at 7:30 PM and the other at 57th Street Books, 1301 East 57th Street on Friday March 30 at 7 PM. For more information, go here.

2. CNT in the News

The electricity markets are becoming more progressive these days by allowing residents to buy their electricity by the hour. Key to this is access to the information that informs customers of hourly rates and gives them the choice
Read a recent USA Today article about this issue.

Much like Seattle, Buffalo, NY has an aging, obstructive Skyway that CNT’s Scott Bernstein has advocated for removing and replacing with a surface boulevard.
Read what a blogger from the Buffalo Pundit has to say.

Calling all Chicago-area bands! I-GO is now taking submissions online for songs to be on the new “Audio Emissions” CD. Just upload your song at I-GO’s site, or if you’re a fan, vote on what songs you want to hear on the CD. The CDs will go in every I-GO car, with a CD release party scheduled for May at the Metro.
Read a Chicagoist article about the event.

3. Job Openings

STPP Surface Transportation Policy Partnership Executive Director, posted 3/7/07
http://www.cnt.org/jobs?job=stpp-executive-director

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Local Events
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1. Energy Efficiency Forum
The LEED Council and Clean Air Counts are hosting a Breakfast Business Forum on ways to be more energy efficient—The Energy Detectives: What an energy audit can do for your building, Midwest Industrial Lighting: Everything you need to know about light fixtures for your building, and Clean Air Counts: How to lower your energy costs and decrease emissions from your building.

The forum is geared toward any business owner, property manager or building stakeholder interested in learning about energy efficiency and saving money.

On March 30 at 8:00 AM at 1871 N. Clybourn at Artist’s Frame Service (2nd Floor Conference room). Cost is free, with RSVP to Kindy Kruller at kindykruller@gmail.com

2. Center for Sustainable Community Open House
How safe are the products you use in your home? To help with making your home environments safer is CSC’s April Open House and seminar ‘Non-Toxic Living’ on April 1 from 10 am to 3. Kasandra Ireland will take a look at some of the most worrisome toxins while focusing on non-toxic alternatives for personal care and household cleaning.

Register at csc@stelle.net or call 815-256-2204 so we can make adequate arrangements for food and seating.Cost for afternoon seminar is $25.00 and lunch is $10.00.

3. Save the Date! CNT Tool Fair
CNT will be hosting an open house highlighting our innovative tools available to support sustainable communities. Come see our LEED-certified Platinum building while you learn about our various tools: calculators, GIS analysis, market innovations, planning and research. We will be giving tours of our building and conducting mini workshops

Thursday, May 10 from 3:00-7:00 at the Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2125 W. North Ave. For more information, contact jan@cnt.org

Got a sustainably-oriented event you’d like to see on our calendar. Send the information to annette@cnt.org.

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You can support our efforts in building more sustainable urban communities by making a donation online. Visit: http://www.cnt.org/support. You can also support CNT as part of Earth Share of Illinois workplace campaigns. For more information about workplace giving, contact Nicole at nicoleg@cnt.org. Thank you for your generosity!

Questions about anything you’ve read or interested in learning more? Contact Annette at annette@cnt.org

Transit Future Update

Contents
The Transit Future is Now
Launching a Campaign
Active Legislation: RTA Reform
Planning Ahead… the Olympics
Demand Reform Now

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The Transit Future is Now

Would it improve your day-to-day commute if there were better communications when trains were stalled? How about if schedules were actually posted at bus stops and you were notified if your bus was late? Is it unreasonable to expect to board a clean train in the morning to get to work?

Public transit users in the Chicagoland area have recently been forced to endure major setbacks in their daily trips on the CTA, Metra, and Pace—whether it is slow zones on the Blue Line, stations under repair on the Red and Brown lines, delayed Metra trains when it rains or snows heavily, or lack of bus frequency in the middle of winter.

The significant drop in quality of service is a result of a veritable transit crisis in Northeastern Illinois, due both to lack of funding at the state and local levels and the overall funding mandates of the Regional Transportation Authority. Limited funding has left our transit system sorely lacking appropriate maintenance, sufficient operating costs, and investment for expansion projects.

As operating funds have dwindled in recent years, capital funds have been used to fill the gap, resulting in poor maintenance of the current system. This method of financing is not sustainable for much longer, and it has left the Regional Transportation Authority—the parent agency for the CTA, METRA, and PACE—almost entirely void of operating funds.

Congress provided capital funds for Illinois in the 2005 SAFETEA-LU Act, but these federal dollars require a local match in order to expend the funds. The state has failed to provide the capital match, which costs the state money while our infrastructure continues to deteriorate. Consequently, the President ordered a $116 million rescission for the state of Illinois, a process that sends federal money back to the US Treasury. The General Assembly has the power to prevent rescissions, which would allow those federal transportation funds to go towards transit.

In addition to the funding crisis, there is a huge and inequitable funding disparity within the RTA that needs to be addressed. For over 20 years, the RTA has not been structured to provide equitable transit funding throughout the region. In 1983, the method of funding was changed, ignoring transit ridership and other system performance measures in favor of an arbitrary formula based on geography.

As a result, the CTA is facing a structural deficit with no way to get to black, and it has not been able to maintain its commitment to provide quality service. The funding formula needs to be changed and equity restored to the system.

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Launching the Campaign

In response to this urgent transportation crisis, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has launched a campaign of advocacy and communications aimed at the grassroots members of our CTAQC coalition (Chicagoland Transportation and Air Quality Commission). CTAQC has close to 200 organizations with diverse constituencies in our six-county region who all share a common interest in transportation.

CNT’s Transit Future campaign is different from the RTA’s Moving Beyond Congestion campaign because of the targeted audience we intend to reach. As a public agency, there are limits to the positions taken and advocacy that the RTA can do. On the other hand, our partner CM2020 (Chicago Metropolis 2020) is not doing grassroots outreach but is working directly with members of the General Assembly.

To fill the void that exists, CNT’s campaign will galvanize organizations and stakeholders that have a vested interest in the future of public transit in Northeastern Illinois, and engage them to communicate directly with their legislators and the Governor to advocate for transit reform and adequate funding.

The Transit Future campaign believes that the resolution of the transit crisis requires several changes that we can achieve through advocacy on a grassroots level and with citizen mobilization. The first step requires some short term, low-cost transit system improvements, which are necessary to prove to transit users that increased funding and organizational reform will result in palpable day-to-day improvements.

We will advocate for:

• Priority bus lanes for buses;
• Restricted parking on major bus routes paralleling rapid transit construction corridors;
• Cooperative traffic and incident management planning;
• Improved cleanliness on buses and rail cars and on rail stations and platforms.

Not only do we want situations to improve right now, we do not want to fall behind the rest of the world in building a world-class 21st Century Transit System. We can all agree that we do not like congestion, high transportation costs and global warming effects. Transit Future will help to create a vision that voices the interests of every sector and every part of the Region in the rapid growth of transit as an answer to these serious issues.

This is how we will do it:

• Widespread distribution of the Campaign’s Platform and fact sheets about the transit crisis
• Convening of broad-based coalition built on CTAQC’s 200 member organizations
• Web-based solicitation of proposed improvements from transit riders on a system-wide and route and rail-line basis
• Web-based voting on transit service improvement priorities
• Inform and educate Legislators to understand the needs of our coalition
• Weekly email updates
• Outreach to and engagement of the media

Finally, Transit Future will conduct research that seeks to document the stake of every Illinois legislative district in transit reform. We will develop a series of maps depicting the transportation costs in each legislative district in the region. These maps will expose the real cost of transportation as compared with the relatively small tax burden of transit, and will examine transit’s impact on household income, property values near transit, local retail near transit, and available transportation options for residents.

Our ultimate goal is to reform transit governance and planning. The RTA must exert financial and planning authority for CTA, Metra, and Pace in order to ensure exemplary service. Our transit system requires adequate funding of a 21st century transit system based on clear measures of performance, which will be determined through public input on quantifiable and qualitative performance measures.

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Active Legislation: RTA Reform

Illinois State Representative Julie Hamos, a longtime transit advocate and head of the Mass Transit Committee in the Illinois General Assembly, has introduced a bill to restructure the RTA. The RTA currently distributes funding resources to the three Service Boards (CTA, Metra, and Pace) according to the 1983 Regional Transportation Authority Act, which bases funding priorities on geography instead of ridership levels or system performance measures. The act fails to give the RTA authority to coordinate the three Service Boards, demand accountability based on performance measures, or plan for transportation on a regional level. The impact of this flawed structure over the past two decades is a deteriorating transit system, lack of coordination among Service Boards, and constant rivalry for funding.

In response to this transit crisis, Rep. Hamos sponsored and introduced Bill HB1841 to the General Assembly, which grants the RTA appropriate regional planning powers and responsibilities, including the power to require a Service Board to change its fare and transfer charges, the power to intervene in and arbitrate disputes between Service Boards, the power to conduct financial audits, and the power to create a “Regional Transit Innovations Fund.” The Bill also provides that the RTA will establish regional goals, objectives, and performance standards for the Service Boards based on the forecasts, assumptions, and plans of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). To that end, the Bill also calls for the RTA to use CMAP’s research as a basis for designing its 5-year plan, Annual Capital Improvement Plan, and other capital improvement plans.

The Transit Future campaign is in support of these legislative changes and hope they spur additional dialogue about the transit funding crisis. You can find more information on the Bill here.

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Planning Ahead… the Olympics

While it is obvious how transit fits into our everyday lives, it is also important to understand how it fits into a regional outlook for economic prosperity. Recently, Chicago has been put under the microscope by those wondering if we are up to hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Such a monumental event would certainly test the critical functions of our transit system.

The recent visit to Chicago by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) allowed committee members and media to tour the proposed site for the $366 million Olympic Stadium in Washington Park on two buses. While Mayor Daley has asserted that no public tax-payer money would be used for the Games, one has to hope that there is a plan for moving athletes, visitors, and everyday Chicagoans around as seamlessly as the USOC was shuttled here and there.

The potential to highlight the world-class city that Chicago is to visitors and viewers from around the world is undoubtedly appealing and very real. The prospect that Olympic visitors and area residents will get bogged down in transportation delays and waylaid by decaying transit infrastructure is also very real.

At a time when we are highlighting the region as worthy of hosting the attention of the world at the 2016 Summer Olympics, do we really want to limit our options for safe and reliable transportation?

Look to this column in upcoming Transit Future newsletters to learn more about the “ripple effects” that could occur if Chicago’s transit service and system continues to decline.

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Demand Reform Now

Right now is the time to quit complaining about mass transit woes and expect a higher quality of service that living with the nation’s second largest transit system should mean.

What can you do? Start by documenting each time you wait unreasonable periods of time for the bus or when the train gets ‘stuck’ on the tracks with no explanation as to why. Send these stories to your legislators: state representative, and state senator as well as the Governor. Don’t know who they are? You can find who represents you and how to contact them at CNT’s Civic Footprint website- civicfootprint.org. Also, please send us a copy of your correspondence so we can track our efforts.

What will Transit Future do? We will be tapping our coalition of over 200 broad-based organizations to advocate and lobby our legislators for the reform that we hear from citizens like you. We will be launching a web-based system to hear proposed improvements from transit riders on a system-wide and route or rail-line basis as well as a web-based voting on transit service improvement priorities. Our coalition will take these issues to our legislators, the RTA, and the media with the expectation of both immediate improvements and long-term goals based on clear measures of performance.

Keep informed: Transit Future’s weekly email news will keep you informed of the issues, give you talking points and tips for contacting your legislators, as well as share with you the ideas and thoughts of other citizens. Our campaign is just getting started and you can be a voice in reforming the RTA.

If your organization would like to be a part of this coalition, please contact Transit Future Project Manager David LeBreton @ dlebreton@cnt.org.

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The Center for Neighborhood Technology has launched the Transit Future campaign in response to the Chicago region’s transit crisis.

CNT’s mission is to promote the development of more livable and sustainable communities. We strive to recognize, preserve and enhance the value of hidden assets and undervalued resources inherent in our urban environment to make households, neighborhoods and regions more efficient, more economically viable, and more equitable.

We recognize that Chicago’s mass transit system is an undervalued asset and the Transit Future campaign will work to promote a system that benefits all residents of Northeastern Illinois.

Safe Routes to School For All

Remember feeling the warmth of a spring day, dragging out your bike and riding to school? Or walking past the neighbors’ houses gathering your classmates along the way? Sadly, today most schoolchildren only experience trips to school by car or bus. No chance to breathe some fresh air before a long day of math and science. Or, to get the much-needed exercise that schools are increasingly struggling to provide.

Only 16 percent of schoolchildren walked or rode their bicycles to school in 2001, compared to 42 percent in 1969. While there are many reasons for this, a program called Safe Routes to School is addressing some of the most pressing.

Ben Helphand, CNT’s Pedestrian Program Manager, has been all over the state the past month giving training sessions to municipal and school officials interested in developing walking and biking-friendly communities that provide a safe route to school for children. The program in Illinois will provide access to $23 million, which can be used for projects such as sidewalk infrastructure and educational programs.

CNT, along with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists presented its “Safe Routes to School” report to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in January. The groups are under contract through 2009 to provide training, outreach and program development services for IDOT. The team will also assist in developing the state’s School Travel Plan template and application.

Access to safe walking and biking conditions can help curb obesity, help children develop traffic schools and reduce air pollution. And perhaps most importantly, allow children the basic freedom and enjoyment of walking and biking.

Voters in Seattle Reject both Elevated Highway AND Tunnel

Less than a day after voters strongly turned down whether to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with another tunnel or an elevated highway, the Mayor and Governor met and ‘called a truce’. It was clear that the implications of the vote could not be overlooked and despite each option having political backing of both leaders, voters determined that neither is desirable for their city’s future.

Though it was a non-binding referendum, the overwhelming vote against both the Viaduct by about 70% and the elevated freeway by roughly 55% forced politicians to listen to their citizens. And it’s important to remember that the ballot asked separate yes-no questions on each option; in other words, it’s not as if voting no for replacing the Viaduct meant the voter necessarily wanted an elevated freeway. The implication of saying ‘no’ twice means the majority of the voters want neither.

Given the potential political ramifications of carrying on with either option deemed undesired by the voters, the leaders met yesterday to discuss plans to move forward with the less ‘charged’ solutions. Attention is now turned to an alternate plan that had been studied by Smart Mobility, commissioned by CNT and the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The ‘transit + streets’ plan examined the implications of replacing the viaduct with beefed-up surface streets and mass transit, and it found that this option can accommodate traffic and help the region focus efforts in creating more alternate transit options. An urban street can better respond to future transportation changes, and stimulate transit-oriented development in Seattle – at a considerably lower public expense.

“We don’t know what that solution looks like, but we do know it will include transit, light rail, streetcars, buses, biking, walking, it will keep freight moving efficiently and our economy strong,” commented the Mayor in a joint press conference. CNT’s Scott Bernstein responded to the newfound acceptance, “It’s a big step in the right direction for the Mayor and Governor to agree to partner and move forward with a solution that they were opposed to at first as a result of this non-binding referendum.”

One of these big steps is to invest about $125 million in transit, bus lanes and surface arterials to help manage traffic during construction.

Climate Change Activities Heating Up

By 2030, Chicago could be up to four degrees Fahrenheit warmer and basking (or baking) in double-digit temperature increases by the end of this century. Extreme heat abnormal to our region’s ecosystem would become more common and storms more severe and with greater impacts. Despite greater precipitation levels, the Midwest would actually be a drier climate and suffer drought due to the increased evaporation associated with warmer areas. The potential scenarios and subsequent dominoes falling would affect our lake levels, water quality, rivers, ecosystem, plant life, and energy use. The impact of these changes would be dramatic—affecting all aspects of Chicagoans quality of life.

But, the picture painted above doesn’t have to come to fruition. As part of his goal for a green Chicago, Mayor Daley is focusing attention on the effects of climate change. The City itself has already taken steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations and adapt to changes in climate; and Chicago is now demonstrating even greater leadership by facilitating a more comprehensive plan to determine how the entire community can reduce its contribution to global warming. The City’s Department of Environment and the Global Philanthropy Partnership are collaborating on the Chicago Climate Task Force that brings together representatives from business, civil society, government, and labor, as well as a top researchers working in the field of climate change. The Task Force is charged with preparing an action plan for Chicago—a plan for all who produce, work, and live here.

To initiate the process, the Task Force will consider research that will use a variety of data sets to create a baseline calculation of Chicago’s existing emissions from multiple sources—from planes, trains, and automobiles to electricity, industry, and waste.

Here is where CNT comes in. . .

CNT is leading up the City’s mitigation research team. In addition, CNT President Scott Bernstein is a member of the Task Force. CNT will be focusing on documenting the current greenhouse gas footprint of Chicago, projecting future emissions under business as usual, and creating a menu of emission reduction opportunities. Because the City of Chicago is depending upon this research to guide its climate planning, CNT is in a unique position to help support wise decision making for the future of the region by providing robust, peer-reviewed information.

The Chicago climate change effort will identify cost-effective opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chicago and then assign emissions values to the proposed emission reduction programs. The study will include a description of the necessary scale at which these changes would have to be implemented, as well as their economic impacts. CNT is encouraging all those with emission reduction ideas for Chicago to submit them for the research team’s consideration. At a recent meeting of the initiative, participants generated ideas such as banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs within the City, mandating energy efficient education in school curricula, and higher fees on automobile licensing. It appears the desire, creativity, and energy is being harnessed in the right direction—that could lead to cooler days ahead. If you have ideas for programs or policies that Chicago could pursue to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions please submit them to Matthew Cunningham at matthew@cnt.org.

Inconvenient or Convenient? Contest Highlights Solutions to Climate Change

Those film buffs among us who watched the Academy Awards show on February 25 saw An Inconvenient Truth win the Oscar for Best Documentary feature film. This film presents Vice President Al Gore’s crusade to affect global warming by debunking misconceptions and galvanizing ordinary citizens to act.

Now, Seventh Generation and TreeHugger are giving us an opportunity to learn how to act by offering up a collection of “inspired, pragmatic videos to get us out of this mess.”  As sponsors of Convenient Truths: a green video contest, they have created a user-generated video competition that offers compelling solutions to combat global warming. The contest is a chance for concerned citizens to share the ways in which we can all save our planet. According to the contest website (www.treehugger.com), Al Gore’s film highlighted the growing global warming threat and their video contest offers a way to curb the impact. While An Inconvenient Truth presented the dilemma, Seventh Generation and TreeHugger are asking entrants to show us all the potential ways of solving the problem. Filmmakers were encouraged to highlight components of everyday life and actions being taken to reduce individual carbon footprints.

A group of judges, including celebrity activists and high-profile personalities such as Arianna Huffington, Darryl Hannah, Ed Begley, Jr., and Perry Farrell (to name but a few), will be awarding prizes—one of which is an all-expenses-paid eco-tour for two to the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge (including air fare, travel gear, and carbon offsets). But before the judges announce the winners, we have the opportunity to whittle down the list of nearly 100 videos by channeling our “inner eco-critic” in rating the submissions.

So, where is a Chicago filmmaker to go when setting out to craft an entry? CNT, of course!!!

Robert Aguilar and Dorothee Royal-Hedinger came to our office and spoke with Anthony Star to get a definition of what global warming is. Anthony offers this simple definition: “Globally warming is the increase in the earth’s atmospheric temperature caused by human activities.”  In the completed piece, this definition is contrasted with answers provided by the average man- and woman-on-the-street. The video reveals a diversity of perspectives about what global warming is and the variety of arenas affected by it. Anthony also suggests that the single best thing people can do right now is “walk more.”

Check out the video at http://truths.treehugger.com/video/contest_entry_what_can_regular.php to see how Chicagoans are individually “doing their part.” Visit the site by March 14 to participate in the rating process.

February Update

February 2007

Sustainability News
1. Transit in Chicago Needs a Voice
2. Chicago Slims Down
3. LEED Certification Extends to Neighborhood Development

CNT News
1. Will Chicago Transit Keep Up with the Rest of the Nation?
2. CNT Testifies at Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
3. Climate Change Taken Seriously at Local Level
4. New Staff

CNT Toolbox
1. Book Spotlight: “Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century”
2. CNT in the News
3. Job Openings

Local Events
1. CNT Sponsored Event: Book Reading at Quimby’s
2. Wild Things Conference
3. People Reversing Global Warming
4. Revving Up the Red

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CLIMATE-FRIENDLY TIP: For tons of great, inspired tips, check out the website TreeHugger for videos individuals have submitted with their thoughts on how to combat global warming. Check out video #81 from Chicagoans Robert Aguilar and Dorothee Royal-Hedinger with commentary from the Energy Cooperative’s Anthony Star.
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Sustainability News
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1. Transit in Chicago Needs a Voice
It appears the ongoing drama that is Chicago’s mass transit system has come to a critical point. From the recent event held by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on how Chicago can become innovative in integrating transit options, to the resurrected idea of building a “Crossway Express,” the way in which our city utilizes transit is in conflict: will we cater to a more congested, car-oriented, air-polluted environment or will we seriously implement Chicago’s ambitious green agenda with a world-class mass transit system that can sustain population growth, as well as serve as a model for reliable, efficient, environmentally and economically significant means of mobility.

Thus far, a major problem has been the failure to properly address the nature of the problem; instead dredging up past nonsensical diversions like the Crossway Express, thus avoiding the real issue head-on: underfunding of the RTA.

The need for solid, focused transportation advocacy is giving birth to the TransitFuture Campaign. CNT is organizing a transit coalition to advocate for immediate short-term transit system improvements, a reconstituted RTA that is accountable and equitable, increased system coordination that provides efficient, reliable and resilient services, and additional operating revenue and new sources of capital funding for a transit system indicative of a world-class city.

The Chicago region has the second largest transit system in the country. Yet is it treated as an afterthought when it comes to transportation funding. Mass transit is not an adjunct to highways, but a necessary requirement for 21st century cities to remain economically competitive. Illinois lawmakers need to pay attention to what good transportation choices actually do for our households, businesses and economy.

To receive updates on the Campaign, sign up for CNT’s new TransitFuture listserv, by sending an email to: transitfuture-subscribe@cnt.org

To contribute to the TransitFuture campaign, please make a secure, paperless donation at: https://ssl.cnt.org/

2. Chicago Slims Down
Who wasn’t anxiously awaiting the results when Men’s Fitness recently released the results of its annual “Fattest Cities in the Nation” poll? It was somewhat reassuring to read that Chicago was not at the number one spot for the second year in a row. Our city’s rank fell to number thirteen, still not exactly something to tout. These results suggest that our urban environment—and our physiques—would benefit from more mobility options like biking and walking.

It would appear that fitter people typically live in places that support a less car-centric lifestyle. One of the characteristics of a fit and healthy city is walkability. There have been concentrated efforts to make Chicago a more walker-friendly city. Groups such as Logan Square Walks bring people together who are interested in promoting a more walker-friendly environment by identifying places that are not accommodating to pedestrians, all while doing the thing they love: walking around and enjoying the urban environment of Chicago. Wintertime also proves an obstacle for walkers in the city. Press coverage this season has revealed that while the city focuses on clearing streets in a snowstorm, sidewalks are not properly managed and walkers are left climbing snowdrifts on treacherous sheets of ice.

One aspect of CNT’s work has focused on making more and safer routes to school for children. Recently, as part of the Safe Routes to School partnership, CNT along with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists presented its “Safe Routes to School” report to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The groups are under contract through 2009 to provide training, outreach and program development services for IDOT. The contracted work includes web site development, communication and promotional work and training sessions throughout the state. The team will also assist in developing the state’s School Travel Plan template and application.

Focusing on the walkability and bikeability of the region is an important solution to making certain Chicago is not known for its oversized citizens but perhaps for its oversized sidewalks and luxurious bike paths.

To read more about CNT’s work on creating diverse transportation options, go to http://www.cnt.org/tsp/trans/ctaqc/sr2s

3. LEED Certification Extends to Neighborhood Development
Now that green buildings are becoming popular for sustainability-minded organizations, cutting-edge architects, and PR-minded businesses, the U.S. Green Building Council is thinking bigger and has begun its pilot program for LEED-certified neighborhood developments (LEED-ND). It is logical that the next step is to create neighborhoods that achieve certain “green” standards. These neighborhoods will be identified much in the same way that a building would be, through evaluation and compliance with a set of technical standards for how developers can build sustainable residential and commercial neighborhoods instead of furthering automobile-dependent sprawl.

The LEED-ND will use four categories to measure the level of certification a potential development would be awarded: Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, Green Construction & Technology, and Innovation & Design Process. These classifications will apply to every facet of the development, from the materials used to construct the buildings to the location that the developer has selected to build the neighborhood.

Many of these same principles are also considered for a green building. CNT’s Platinum-certified Green Building renovation involved criteria such as location as well. CNT’s office is conveniently located near many transportation options and provides showers and bike racks to further accommodate walking and biking. To read more about CNT’s Green Building renovation, visit the site at: http://building.cnt.org/

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CNT News
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1. Will Chicago Transit Keep Up with the Rest of the Nation?
CMAP’s recent “Innovation + Integration” event, focused on linking jobs, housing and transportation, and it was evident that Chicago is glaringly behind other U.S. cities in a key component of this: transit planning and funding. Lead speaker, Shelly Poticha of Reconnecting America, put the challenge out to Chicago planners and leaders to take advantage of the enormous asset that transit can be to our city.

The purpose of “Innovation + Integration” was to highlight best practices for linking transit assets with jobs and housing in the region. Yet it seems that the first step for us in the Chicago area is to demonstrate to our State leaders how important transit is to the economy and quality of life throughout the region.

Across the country, transit ridership is on the upswing, according to Poticha. With the combined “perfect storm” of congestion, gas prices, and cost of owning and operating a car, residents of metropolitan areas are demanding that transit be a viable option for commutes to work, households errands, and accessing recreation and entertainment amenities. And, despite Chicago’s extensive system, ridership is actually on the downswing in the region.

So while the rest of the nation’s cities blow past our ‘extensive’ system by coordinating transportation options—including light rail and streetcars—with housing and development activities, Chicago may continue to be plagued by congestion, air pollution and a car-oriented environment. All is not lost here in Chicago, though. As an example of some of the progressive and truly visionary work going on in Illinois, the mayor of Blue Island, Donald Peloquin, spoke about his city’s plans to redevelop around transit stations and cargo distribution centers as a means of reinvigorating the old industrial city, while the Mayor of Arlington Heights, Arlene J. Mulder pointed out just how suburbs like Arlington Heights are working to integrate transit to make their cities more walkable and livable.

To hear audio of the presentations made at “Innovation + Integration”, including CNT’s Scott Bernstein, visit http://chicagoareaplanning.org/innovation/#agenda.

2. CNT Testifies at Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
On February 15, Cook County water officials approved their first ever comprehensive stormwater management plan. This progressive step is good news for advocates of serious stormwater management in Cook County. In 2004, the Illinois General Assembly gave the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District authority over management of stormwater for all of suburban Cook County, and this stormwater management plan is an indication that progress can actually be made when the appropriate authority manages it.

This current plan is not the complete version that environmental groups envisioned, however. A missing component in the current draft is the focus on wetland protection and promotion of ecologically sensitive buildings.

CNT’s Natural Resources portfolio manager, Steve Wise, was at the meeting to testify on the importance of managing stormwater through land and other assets that, unlike centralized treatment facilities, may utilize community resources, open space, roadways or municipal property. Steve stressed the importance of implementing many of these proven green initiatives immediately. Many of these measures need to be adapted to local circumstances, but the evidence that such efforts will pay off is clear and well-documented. The District can use green infrastructure to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater and Lake Michigan with clean water, and enrich communities by creating green spaces.

With funding from the Joyce Foundation, CNT is promoting green infrastructure to assist the District in making stormwater best management practices – or Green Infrastructure – a central element of the County’s stormwater management program. In many cases, green infrastructure improvements can be readily implemented.

To read more about CNT’s work in Green Infrastructure, see our Natural Resource page at http://greenvalues.cnt.org/ where you can calculate the value of various green infrastructure projects.

3. Climate Change Taken Seriously at Local Level
A recent article in The New Yorker stated the reality of global warming: “…because there isn’t going to be any meaningful help from George Bush, and the U.S. isn’t going to be changing its mind and joining the Kyoto Protocol, we’re at the beginning of a movement to take responsibility at the local level.” From individuals deciding to switch to hybrid cars (or ditch their cars altogether) to companies deciding to conduct business in an energy-efficient green building, it is apparent that thus far, most efforts to reduce the strain of greenhouse gases on our planet has been a result of the initiative of smaller groups.

In this same vein, individual cities are deciding that the seemingly daunting and complex problem is best dealt with at a local level. The New Yorker article challenged its city to make serious strides at the local level much like Chicago and London.

CNT’s Scott Bernstein was recently chosen to serve on the Chicago Climate Change Task Force, which is charged with guiding the development of a Climate Action Strategy for Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Department of the Environment. CNT is excited that Chicago is taking a leadership role in addressing the real and urgent challenge of global warming, and we are glad to lend our expertise to the effort. To support this undertaking, CNT is working with the City to document the baseline greenhouse gas emissions of Chicago and investigate sustainable mitigation opportunities that offer net economic benefits to the residents and businesses of Chicago.

Taking responsibility at the local level relies on personal accountability that, when taken large-scale, can make heavy strides in combating a problem that affects not just one city, but a collection of cities—and the entire planet.

4. New Staff
CNT is growing and filling up with excellent new talent.

Linda Young is CNT’s new Research Manager. She has 18 years experience working in community planning for the nonprofit and public sectors, working on a variety of community development and policy issues. She holds a Masters of Urban Planning from University of Michigan and a M.S. in Historic Preservation Planning from Eastern Michigan University.

I-GO has a new Fleet Manager, Michael Neuner, who will be managing I-GO’s fleet around the city from his bike!

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CNT Toolbox
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1. Book Spotlight: “Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century”
The streetcar renaissance is becoming a solution to urban issues that appeals to planners, environmentalists, mass transit advocates, government, and private enterprise and could be an integral part in the movement back to America’s cities.

Reconnecting America, a national organization formed to link transportation networks and the communities they serve, recently published a book on the streetcar revival, “Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century.” The book is a great reference for the history of streetcars all the way up to their newfound role in the 21st century. Its beautiful images of streetcars makes it a great coffee table book for historians and transportation enthusiasts alike. CNT’s Scott Bernstein writes the chapter on the history of streetcars.

To order a copy, send an email to annette@cnt.org

2. CNT in the News

Car-sharing in Chicago is as popular as ever. Many people are realizing that ditching their cars saves them money, reduces air pollution and makes their lives more stress-free. Read about more I-GO in the Chicago Defender.
http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=8534

CNT’s Scott Bernstein has been traveling the globe advocating for the return to streetcars as a viable supplement to a mass-transit system in urban areas. Recently he wrote for the Ohio chapter of the American Institute of Architects newsletter on the benefits of streetcars in Columbus.
http://weblog.cnt.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/AIAOH-Streetcar-SB-07.pdf

A Crosstown Express revival in Chicago? How pragmatic can it be that a resurrected transportation “solution,” already deemed inappropriate for a city and its mayor that insists on growing through mass transit and other ‘green’ initiatives, is on the table again?
Read more about it at http://weblog.cnt.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Tribune.Crosstown.022107.pdf

3. Job Openings

I-GO Operations Manager, posted 1/16
http://www.cnt.org/jobs?job=i-go-operations-manager

Center for Science in the Public Interest, Grassroots Organizer
http://www.cspinet.org/about/jobs/200610032.html

Interfaith Housing Center, Director of Communications and Advocacy
http://www.interfaithhousingcenter.org/mainpages/45jobs.html

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Local Events
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1. CNT Sponsored Event- Book Reading: “Green City: People, Nature and Urban Places”
Mary Soderstrom’s latest book, “Green City: People, Nature and Urban Places” examines how people have brought nature into cities over history. The book considers eleven cities around the world, including Chicago, to see how people and nature have interacted over the course of history. The book points out how, by attempting to bring gardens and greenery into cities, citizens and their city administrators have created a “Green Paradox.” Soderstrom finds a lesson in hope and, often a warning in how well the cities have dealt with the paradox.

Come meet Mary, listed to her read from her new book and look forward to an engaging discussion in the fascinating issues involving the green movement in urban environments. She will be at Quimby’s Books on Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 PM. For more information, contact annette@cnt.org

2. Wild Things Conference
The Wild Things Conference is chance for restoration experts, citizen scientists and others concerned with and intrigued by Chicago-area nature to exchange ideas and network. Participants can choose from over 100 workshops on bird conservation, land restoration, wildlife monitoring, native landscaping, habitat preservation, advocacy, invasive species and much more. Plan to enjoy a full day of learning, networking and inspiration. Sponsored by Chicago Wilderness partner organizations. $25 before February 12, $30 after. $15 for students. Add $10 for buffet lunch. More information and registration at www.habitatproject.org/WildThings or 847-965-9239, ext. 21.

3. People Reversing Global Warming
Climate Chicago presents “People Reversing Global Warming,” Sunday, March 4 at 2:00-5:00 PM, located at UNITE Hall, 333 S. Ashland, Chicago. At this session participants will hear the new statement of purpose that has been developed for the coalition, and be part of an exercise to develop teams focusing on issues that were identified at the First Town Hall Meeting. A representative from the City of Chicago will be coming to announce the formulation of the new City Global Warming Response Plan. If you plan to attend, please visit the campaign website at: www.climatechicago.org

4. “Revving Up the Red”
Do you want to take part in creating a new vision for the Edgewater Red Line Stations and retail districts - Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville? Join your neighbors in a hands-on session to build a vision for improving the physical surroundings and retail selection at the stations and adjacent retail districts. Sessions held on March 5 from 7-9 PM at St. Andrew’s Church, 5649 N. Sheridan, Chicago will focus on the Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations; Thorndale and Granville stations will get their time in the spotlight on March 12 at Loyola’s Simpson Multi-purpose room.

Space is limited, reservations required. Call or email to register: 773-506-4016, info@edgewaterdev.org.

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You can support our efforts in building more sustainable urban communities by making a donation online. Visit: http://www.cnt.org/support. You can also support CNT as part of Earth Share of Illinois workplace campaigns. For more information about workplace giving, contact Nicole at nicoleg@cnt.org. Thank you for your generosity!

Questions about anything you’ve read or interested in learning more? Contact Annette at annette@cnt.org