Related links

A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH): ARCH is a voluntary organization in suburban Seattle created in 1992 to establish a collaborative approach to solving local housing issues. Three cities and King County started ARCH, which has now grown to include 15 cities and the county. Members pool financial resources through a joint Housing Trust Fund, share best practices, and coordinate planning efforts. ARCH has served as an inspiration for MPC’s work on interjurisdictional housing strategies. More info »
America 2050: America 2050 is a national initiative to meet the infrastructure, economic development and environmental challenges of the nation as we prepare to add about 130 million additional Americans by the year 2050.
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American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials advocates transportation-related policies and provides technical services to support states in their efforts to efficiently and safely move people and goods. More info »
American Public Transportation Association (APTA): To strengthen and improve public transportation, APTA serves and leads its diverse membership through advocacy, innovation, and information sharing. The APTA web site has a wealth of information and statistics about public transportation in the U.S. More info »
American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Transit Resource Guide: APTA provides a variety of resources on public transportation and, specifically, BRT. More info »
Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program: Created in 1996, the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program provides decision makers with cutting-edge research and policy ideas for improving the health and prosperity of cities and metropolitan areas. More info »
Bus Rapid Transit: Bus rapid transit is a high-quality, high-capacity bus service Chicago should explore if we host the 2016 Olympic Games. As part of our work to reduce traffic congestion and improve transportation options, MPC is helping to coordinate regional bus rapid transit proposals, encouraging connections between BRT, job centers, and communities, and exploring financing options to cover the maintenance, operations and expansion of a regional BRT network. More info »
Bus Rapid Transit Policy Center: The Bus Rapid Transit Policy Center was established in 2002 to increase understanding of how enhanced bus services can promote sustainable mobility, reduce air pollution, and fight climate change. More info »
Center for Neighborhood Technology: Learn more about one of CNT’s latest projects, a public planning project to draw community benefits from undervalued transit and freight assets in Cook County suburbs. The two communities that have signed agreements with CNT for an integrated planning process are Blue Island and Harvey. The final report, once adopted by the community, will be used to solicit proposals from developers that specifically respond to the community’s vision. More info »
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities conducts research and analysis to help shape public debates over proposed budget and tax policies. CBPP’s voucher advocacy on Capital Hill advances many of MPC’s key goals about promoting regional coordination in metropolitan Chicago. More info »
Chicago Climate Action Plan: Commute Options was inspired by the Chicago Climate Action Plan, which outlines five strategies and 35 actions to reach Chicago's goal of a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. More info »
Chicago Housing Authority: Plan for Transformation: Find financial reports, background, policies and more about the Plan for Transformation on CHA’s web site. More info »
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: CMAP offers community assistance that provides tools, programs, and opportunities to help communities and organizations build capacity, improve quality of life, and participate in the regional planning process. More info »
Civic Consulting Alliance: Civic Consulting Alliance is a partnership that reshapes how Chicago works, by building pro bono teams of business experts, government leaders, and its own staff that figure out workable and enduring ways to make our city more livable, affordable, and globally competitive. MPC is working with Civic Consulting Alliance to advance the Chicago Climate Action Plan through the Commute Options program. More info »
Corridor Development Initiative in Minnesota (formerly known as the Corridor Housing Initiative): MPC bases its CDI process on a similar initiative in Minnesota. More info »
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher page: This page provides general information about Housing Choice Vouchers, as well as information by state. More info »
Environmental Defense Fund: This EDF Web article, “A Smart Solution for Reducing Traffic in Urban Centers and Busy Corridors,” provides a smart breakdown of congestion pricing by city as it relates to the CO2 emissions, traffic accidents, transit ridership and effects on traffic. More info »
Environmental Defense Fund: This EDF Web article, “A Smart Solution for Reducing Traffic in Urban Centers and Busy Corridors,” provides a smart breakdown of congestion pricing by city as it relates to the CO2 emissions, traffic accidents, transit ridership and effects on traffic. More info » More info »
Fast Lane: Subscribe to the official blog of U.S. Sect. of Transportation Ray LaHood. More info »
Grand Victoria Foundation: Grand Victoria Foundation forms partnerships with organizations that strive to strengthen educational opportunities for children and adults, boost the economic vitality of neighborhoods, cities, and regions, and restore and preserve the health of our environment. More info »
Homes for a Changing Region: Homes for a Changing Region is a forward looking series of reports on the housing needs of the Chicago region which have been compiled by Chicago Metropolis 2020 in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and with communities across the Chicago region. More info »
Housing Action Illinois: Housing Action Illinois teams up with MPC to cover the development and sustainability of EAH partnerships outside of the Chicago region and throughout the state. More info »
Housing Choice Partners of Illinois, Inc.: HCP’s role in the Portability Pilot was to serve as the third-party nonprofit supporting mobility across public housing authority jurisdictions. HCP provides expanded housing choice to low-income families historically living in segregated communities lacking good jobs and good schools. More info »
Housing Trust of Santa Clara County: The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County is a nonprofit organization created to be a catalyst for developing needed housing in Silicon Valley. Contributions from local employers and employer foundations, the County government, and all 15 Santa Clara County municipalities fund the trust. MPC hopes to emulate the strong corporate support achieved by this entity. More info »
HousingPolicy.org: HousingPolicy.org an online guide to state and local housing policy. More info »
Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is a major proponent of building public – private partnerships throughout Illinois and has highlighted EAH through their Workforce Development arm. While committed to encouraging statewide economic development by cultivating a well-trained workforce, DCEO enlists EAH and other tools to help employers thrive. More info »
Illinois Housing Development Authority: Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is an integral part of the REACH partnership. As the state’s primary housing finance agency, IHDA implemented public incentives for the REACH program. Employers running an EAH program are eligible to receive a state tax credit and employees taking advantage of an EAH program might qualify for a state matching fund. Thanks to IHDA’s leadership on the issue, other states have contemplated initiating similar incentives. More info »
Illinois Housing Development Authority’s RHI page: Developers competing for federal low-income housing tax credits through the Illinois Housing Development Authority may be competitive for extra points if they first secure vouchers through RHI. More info »
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Housing Action Agenda: The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a caucus of metropolitan Chicago’s 272 mayors working together to address shared economic development and affordable housing issues and more. Through the Housing Action Agenda, the Mayors Caucus is working to create safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities for all people in every community in the region. More info »
National Bus Rapid Transit Institute: The National BRT Institute Web site provides information about planning, building and evaluating BRT systems, as well as a list of contact information for organizations exploring and running BRT systems in the U.S. and around the world. More info »
National Housing Conference: The National Housing Conference is a nonprofit organization made of up of a broad national membership that advocates for legislation and policy to support quality housing options. The Open House blog is a great way to stay up to date on NHC’s work. More info »
Placemaking Chicago: Placemaking is a people-centered approach to developing and working toward a common vision for a public place. Learn about Placemaking Chicago, through which MPC supports the creation and care of public places across Chicagoland that bring people together and foster healthier, more social, and economically viable communities. More info »
Planetizen: Planetizen is a public-interest information exchange provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design, and development community. Interchange is Planetizen’s daily blog featuring opinions and commentary from leaders in the field on all things relating to the built environment. More info »
Project for Public Spaces: Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Founded in 1975, PPS has become an internationally recognized center for best practices, information, and resources about Placemaking. MPC partnered with PPS to create “A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago.” More info »
REACH Illinois: The REACH Illinois web site gives practical information about how programs are designed and implemented, available incentives, and examples of existing programs in Illinois. Participating partners, including employers and nonprofit housing organizations, as well as case studies on successful programs are available. More info »
Reconnecting America: Reconnecting America is a national nonprofit working to integrate transportation systems and the communities they serve, with the goal of generating lasting public and private returns, improving economic and environmental efficiency, and giving consumers more housing and mobility choices. More info »
Reconnecting Neighborhoods (external website): The official Reconnecting Neighborhoods web site provides updates on the project’s progress, in-depth background information about the two-year community planning process that led to the final recommendations report, and links to resources on Chicago’s mixed-income communities, transit-oriented development, and more. More info »
Reconnecting Neighborhoods (MPC Project Page): Through Reconnecting Neighborhoods, MPC is partnering with community, private, and public sector leaders to support three Chicago Housing Authority Plan for Transformation mixed-income communities – the Near West, Mid-South, and Near North. Planning for the Olympic Games should draw on existing community plans, such as the Reconnecting Neighborhoods recommendations for connecting these once-isolated neighborhoods back to the city. More info »
Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative: Arising out of a series of planning meetings held in the fall of 2008, Regional HOPI is a network of organizations working collaboratively to address the foreclosure crisis in order to develop and implement more coordinated and robust regional responses. Working together, public, private and non-profit agencies are developing and implementing joint responses which: build on existing efforts; are actionable and feasible to accomplish; are replicable across the metro area or scalable to the… More info »
Streetsblog: Streetsblog is a daily news source, online community, and political mobilizer for the worldwide Livable Streets movement, working to transform our cities by reducing dependence on private automobiles and improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders. More info »
Sustainable Communities Initiative: On June 16, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U. S. Department of Transportation announced an interagency partnership to improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide. This is a new opportunity to realize some of Reconnecting Neighborhoods’ recommendations. More info »
The Infrastructurist: America Under Construction: The Infrastructurist is a daily blog featuring news and commentary on infrastructure planning in the U.S. Contributors to The Infrastructurist include editor Jebediah Reed, as well as politicians, academics, representatives of major industry and advocacy groups, and journalists. More info »
Transportation Alternatives: The New York-based Transportation Alternatives promotes congestion pricing as one of “the most powerful policy tool at the hands of city officials to reduce unnecessary driving, promote environmentally sound transportation, and finance 21st Century improvements to our aging transportation infrastructure.” Visit the site for mor resources on congestion pricing. More info » More info »
Transportation Alternatives: The New York-based Transportation Alternatives promotes congestion pricing as one of “the most powerful policy tool at the hands of city officials to reduce unnecessary driving, promote environmentally sound transportation, and finance 21st Century improvements to our aging transportation infrastructure.” Visit the site for mor resources on congestion pricing. More info »
Transportation for America: MPC is a member of Transportation for America, a broad coalition seeking to align national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues such as economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. Subscribe to T4America’s blog to stay up to date on federal legislation related to these goals. More info »
Urban Land Institute, Chicago: Since 1947 ULI has harnessed the technical expertise of its members to help communities solve difficult land use, development, and redevelopment challenges. Learn about ULI-Chicago’s TAP partnership with MPC, read reports from completed TAPs, and download an application form to bring a TAP to your community. More info »
Victoria Transport Institute—Online Transportation Demand Management Encyclopedia: Check out Victoria Transport Institute’s web site to learn more about congestion pricing and other strategies to manage transportation demand. More info »
Victoria Transport Institute—Online Transportation Demand Management Encyclopedia: Check out Victoria Transport Institute’s web site to learn more about congestion pricing and other strategies to manage transportation demand. More info » More info »

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