CNT delivers game-changing research, tools, and solutions to create sustainable + equitable communities.

Recent Work

Civic Innovation Hub Phase 2: Community Based Participatory Research

Residents used community-based participatory research to frame questions and plan local improvements more »

RainReady®

RainReady helps individuals, businesses, and communities find solutions to the problem of urban flooding. more »

Elevated Works ETOD technical assistance

Community-based organizations have the vision and local knowledge of what their neighborhoods need. Policy and planning organizations bring expertise... more »

Future of Western Avenue Public Transit Town Hall

  A room full of constituents from Brighton Park, Pilsen, McKinley Park, Rogers Park, La Villita, and other neighboring communities gathered in the McKinley Park Fieldhouse May 29 to discuss the future of Western Avenue public transit – a kick off in a spring and summer of work to advocate for improvements along the corridor.   Frustration and hope at town hall Presenters explained the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority’s (... Continue reading »

 

Featured Publication

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works 2025 Impact Report

By CNT and Elevated Works
June 9, 2025

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works ETOD Technical Assistance Program Impact, by CNT and Elevated Chicago, highlights new best practices for publicly funded community development in general and equitable transit-oriented development specifically. With case studies, a comprehensive project list and other features, this report highlights the impact of the City of Chicago’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Program from 2023 to 2025. The City’s $1 million investment in the Elevated Works technical assistance program we coordinated ensured the success of 29 projects, representing $300 million invested in Chicago communities. All 29 projects made meaningful progress, with 7 reaching groundbreaking and 5 more celebrating grand openings. Beyond these individual project milestones, Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact describes shared successes and challenges for the entire pipeline and describes how we've advocated for systems-level changes to reduce barriers for equitable transit-oriented development in Chicago moving forward. From 2023 to 2025, we partnered with Elevated Chicago , IFF , Metropolitan Planning Council , Rudd Resources...

Download PDF

Publication Library

 

How Transportation Built America – And How the Next Surface Transportation Bill Can Build Affordability

Eno Center for Transportation | August 27, 2025

America is approaching its 250th year and a new turning point. At each turning point, new mobility – and a federal policy to match – reshaped the country: canals and steamboats for an agrarian republic; transcontinental rail for industrialization; the Interstate System and commercial aviation for a knowledge economy. While past investments boosted national security, economic growth, and travel safety by connecting rural and urban areas, they came with drawbacks. Railroads and interstates displaced Indigenous communities, exploited labor, and caused uneven prosperity, exclusionary zoning, reinforced biases, pollution, and a car-dominated system that deterred more affordable choices.

View Story

CNT is engaged by governments, advocates, policy makers, and community groups to apply our expertise to solving problems.

Explore Our Work

xxxx

Transit-Oriented Development show all (15)

Cargo-Oriented Developmentshow all (4)

Transportationshow all (11)

Housing + Transportation Affordabilityshow all (29)

Parkingshow all (4)

Location Efficiencyshow all (3)

Eco-Districtsshow all (2)

Sustainable Prosperityshow all (11)

Sustainability/Resilienceshow all (16)

Watershow all (7)

Policyshow all (3)

Climateshow all (4)

Planningshow all (6)

Othershow all (4)