Chicago’s Metropolitan Planning Council has released its 2012 policy agenda concerning bus rapid transit and green infrastructure incentives. MPC’s 2012 Plan for Prosperity: Innovative Solutions for the New Normal identifies 10 policy, planning and development reforms MPC is pursuing in 2012.
MPC’s 2011 report Bus Rapid Transit: Chicago’s New Route to Opportunity envisioned a nearly 100-mile, 10-route BRT network in Chicago. Throughout 2012, MPC will work with a team including the City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Dept. of Transportation, Active Transportation Alliance, and local stakeholders to advance potential routes. MPC’s 2011 report was based on a plan that prioritized routes that would be feasible to construct; improve the use of the entire public transit system; and help people access jobs, shops, schools, hospitals, and other services and destinations. Throughout 2012, MPC plans to educate local and national policy makers about adapting this comprehensive, results-oriented selection process to their own transportation decision-making.