Transforming Federal Policies to Strengthen Regions
Many of the decisions made by state and local governments are directed, even dictated, by misguided federal investment policies. Too often, money flows through issue-specific streams, to units of government too small or too large to adequately address the problem at hand, and without a clear set of measurable goals. Goal-driven, right-sized, and coordinated investment would spur innovation and put Chicagoland and the rest of the nation on a more sustainable, equitable, and economically viable path. MPC and many of its partners are working to reform federal policies through research, advocacy, and on-the-ground pilot projects that generate specific policy reform.
Articles
Senate releases MAP-21 transportation bill proposal-
- Chrissy Nichols co-authored this article.
Late last Friday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) released Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), which is the Senate highway portion of the next federal surface transportation bill. While we’re still a long…
- Demographics as Destiny
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- By Guest Author
- Sep 3, 2011
- For Release Saturday, September 3, 2011 Citiwire.net
Tom Downs is chairman of the North American Board of Veolia Transportation and a former president of Amtrak. His e-mail is tmdowns1@aol.com.
The new demographics are found in two generations deeply influenced by suburbia. First there’s…
- President Obama proposes $556 billion federal transportation bill
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- In his Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal, President Obama recommended a $556 billion six-year federal transportation bill, almost doubling what was approved in SAFETEA-LU, the last — and now expired — piece of transportation legislation. The proposal illustrates the White House’s…
Where do Chicago's mayoral candidates stand on key regional issues?-
- Much is at stake on Tuesday, Feb. 22, when Chicago voters will elect their first new mayor in 22 years from a slate of candidates that, for the first time in 60 years, does not include an incumbent. Through our Keepers and Seekers briefing book, participation in coalition efforts to advance the…
A Fork in the River: New video explores future of our waterways-
- It's been about a year since Asian carp hit the news in a big way. Here in the Chicago region our most notorious invasive species may have slipped from the front pages, but elsewhere in the broader Great Lakes region they are still very much on people's minds. Fortunately for everyone involved,…
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Multimedia
2012 Plan for Prosperity: Innovative Solutions for the New Normal-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- Jan 12, 2012
- To read MPC's 2012 Plan for Prosperity, download the file. The following is MPC President MarySue Barrett's introductory letter.
Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. For decades, the United States enjoyed what appeared to be boundless economic expansion. Consumers spent and borrowed…
Implementing GO TO 2040: A Plan for Chicagoland's Future; We Have a Plan: Let’s Do It-
- Listen to this April 27, 2011, roundtable, the third in the three-part series, “Implementing GO TO 2040: A Plan for Chicagoland’s Future,” co-sponsored by MPC and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The series explored how – in an ever-expanding world economy…
Advancing Livability Principles: Federal Investment Reform Lessons from the Chicagoland Experience-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- Oct 30, 2009
- During a time of historic economic change, the strength of the Chicagoland region – or any region across the nation, for that matter -- depends on smart federal investment strategies. As more and more communities need resources to fund outdated infrastructure, deal with the foreclosure…
- MPC 2009 Annual Luncheon: Connecting the Dots: Metropolitan Chicago's Path to Prosperity
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- Listen to this recording of MPC's 2009 Annual Luncheon, which featured a joint appearance by three members of President Obama’s Cabinet to discuss their interagency Sustainable Communities Partnership and other new federal initiatives to improve the nation's metro regions.
- Metropolitan Planning Council 2008 Annual Luncheon, Metropolitan Mandate: How the Next President Will Maximize Metro Potential
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- At MPC's 2008 Annual Meeting Luncheon, representatives of the two major party nominees for President of the United States presented their candidates' plans and priorities for solving the most urgent issues impeding the nation's regions and cities.
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Links
- 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.
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 »
More related links »
Collaborators
Partners
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Regional Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings Institution
National Housing Conference
Funders
Allstate Corporation
Boeing
The Chicago Community Trust
Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Microsoft
