Innovative process to be featured at seven public meetings throughout Northeastern Illinois

CHICAGO, May 8, 2006 -- The Regional Planning Board is hosting seven public meetings throughout northeastern Illinois to gather comment on the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update. 

With rising gas prices and congestion throughout northeastern Illinois, our transportation choices have never been more important.  The 2030 RTP prioritizes transportation expenditures and proposes how to improve and expand our transportation system.  The three main goals of the 2030 RTP are to maintain the integrity of the existing system of transportation, to improve the transportation system's performance, and to use transportation to sustain the region's vision and values.
 

The seven public meetings are opportunities for individuals to voice their opinions on regional transportation choices.  An evening workshop will use an innovative game, Transopoly,^SM created by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, which will allow participants to "invest" in their choices for transportation initiatives throughout Northeastern Illinois.  Individuals and organizations unable to attend one of the public meetings can complete a transportation survey at www.sp2030.com.

"This is an important opportunity for communities to weigh in on critical transportation issues facing northeast Illinois," said Randy Blankenhorn, executive director of the Regional Planning Board.  "Our planning processes depend on residents' input to help ensure that their needs are being met by the RTP.  I strongly encourage the public to take advantage of the seven meetings and let their voices be heard."

All meetings begin at 6:30 with a sign-in and socializing period. The facilitated sessions last from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  The seven meetings will be held at the following locations:

Near West, May 16

The Berwyn Police Department, 6420 West 16^th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402

North, May 18

The Waukegan Police Department, 420 Robert V. Sabonjian Place, Waukegan, IL 60085

Far West, May 31

The Kane County Government Center, Bldg. A, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva, IL 60134

Central, June 1

Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Southwest, June 6

The Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa, Joliet, IL 60432

Northwest, June 8

Palatine Village Hall, Community Center, 200 East Wood Street, Palatine, IL 60067

South, June 15

Blue Island City Hall Annex, 2434 Vermont Street, Blue Island, IL 60406

RSVP for the meetings at ctaqc@cnt.org or 773-269-4097.  Please include your name and phone number or e-mail address, along with the meeting that you would like to attend.

Interested individuals and/or organizations can request further information on this process by contacting Leslie Kirchler of T.Y. Lin International at 773-792-9000 or lkirchler@tylin.com .

The Regional Planning Board ( http://www.rpbchicago.org ) consists of 15 members appointed by the region's mayors and county board chairs, plus two non-voting members representing the Chicago Area Transportation Study and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission.  In September 2006, the Regional Planning Board will report to the General Assembly with recommendations on a permanent structure and funding for the board.

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