On Monday, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood issued a new policy statement calling for the inclusion of pedestrians and bicyclists in all transportation projects, with special attention paid to transit riders and people of all ages and abilities. The recommendations in this statement echo those in Complete Streets policies across the country. With the federal Complete Streets Act of 2009 up for consideration, MPC is heartened by this monumental step toward the adoption of a national Complete Streets policy.
Here are some of the ways the statement recommends integrating “complete streets” components in future projects:
Consider walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
Ensure transportation choices for people of all ages and abilities.
Go…
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Yesterday when I got home from work, my Census form was waiting for me with the rest of the mail. My husband and I filled it out, and I have to say, it was as gratifying as going to the polls.
I'm quite sure I didn't feel that way before I started working at MPC six years ago. Back then, I rarely gave a second thought to how programs and services developed from one person's idea into reality. And when I did, cynicism prevailed. I worked as a journalist for a community newspaper and an environmental magazine, and wrote a good number of stories about funding shortfalls, cuts to important programs, and struggling neighborhoods and communities. My pessimism grew as I typed away at my computer, pounding out people's frustrations about their elected officials, broken government, and greedy…
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MPC Research Assistant Christina Loranz wrote this article.
If you've ever used Google Maps to find directions, you've probably noticed that you can choose among several modes of travel by clicking on "By Car, Walk or Public Transit." Well, now there's one more option to make life even easier. If you prefer pedaling your way around town, click on "Bicycling" to find the most bike-friendly way to get to your destination. The mapping tool will find the most efficient route that utilizes bike trails or lanes.
Google maps adding a "Bicycle" option signals a growing movement to create streets that are a safe place for all types of traffic. In Chicago and across the country, states, cities, and counties are adopting Complete Streets policies. Complete streets are welcoming, safe and…
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A wonderfully written article by Charles Duhigg in this morning’s The New York Times tells the story of George S. Hawkins, a man on a mission to educate Americans about the costs, and value, of delivering clean water to our homes and businesses.
Hawkins heads up the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, which happens to supply water to the White House, in addition to approximately 2 million D.C.-area residents. According to the article, an average of one pipe breaks per day in Washington – a major inconvenience for Hawkins and local residents, and perhaps more importantly a telling sign of just how unkempt our nation’s water infrastructure has become: As the article also noted, “a significant water line bursts on average every two minutes somewhere in…
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This morning, the Illinois General Assembly's House Revenue and Finance Committee was at work bright and early, unanimously approving renewal of the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit program (HB 6038), which supports dozens of Illinois employers who are providing employer-assisted housing benefits (EAH) to help their workers afford homes near work.
The program provides a 50-cent credit on state income tax liability for every $1 an employer invests in an EAH program. We strongly support this renewal because EAH is a program that pays off -- a common theme of MPC's 2010 Springfield agenda, as the state continues to face severe fiscal constraints. Our focus has been on legislation that not only is relatively inexpensive or free, but also -- like EAH -- generates economic benefits and…
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