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

Recent Work

Justice40 Analysis

The White House Justice40 Initiative aims to send 40% of dollars in federal infrastructure and environment programs to under-invested communities.... more »

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 »

With urban flooding, ponds and puddles do nearly as much harm as one big wave
July 3, 2025

  The risk of urban flooding is not one big wave, but thousands of ponds and puddles. Deep-water accumulations on streets and under viaducts, in parking lots, basements, and yards can make one street impassable while one street over is relatively dry. Urban flooding—when the local sewer system cannot cope with the amount of rain during a storm—will get worse due to climate change, causing more severe storms, and increased development, creating more impervious surfaces. ... 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...

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Publication Library

 

Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting covers Better Streets for Buses, Divvy electrification and Cook County Safe Streets for All program

Streetsblog Chicago | July 2, 2025

photo of stairs down into the DePaul Center where June Chicago Mobility meeting took place

Last Thursday's Chicago Mobility Collaborative gathering, hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation, focused on the topic "Investing in Major Capital Projects." These quarterly events replaced the sometimes-dramatic pre-COVID Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council meetings. The current format allows City officials and representatives of other organizations to give presentations on walk/bike/transit issues and initiatives, followed by breakout sessions where attendees can provide input.

 

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