Cook County residents want quality transportation options for the 21st century. From August to December 2014, almost 1,500 residents participated in public workshops and online surveys for Connecting Cook County, the County’s long-range transportation plan. The results of this public engagement process highlight the importance of public transit and active transportation to the county’s future success, and strongly support the county’s move toward a more balanced (and less auto-centric)... Read the rest of this entry »

The Obama Foundation has officially announced the Obama Presidential Library will be located on Chicago’s South Side. When the institution comes to Washington Park or Jackson Park, it will bring millions of visitors and potentially billions of dollars in investment to the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Chicago.  Regardless of which site is selected, the library and museum development will include public investment and private commitments to improve the standard of living for... Read the rest of this entry »

States can learn a lot about what not to do by watching Illinois’ legislature scramble to fill fiscal deficits by pulling back on investments to fix crumbling roads, bridges and transit. Recently, the Illinois General Assembly trumpeted a somber but triumphant proclamation about a budget resolution passed but it was accompanied with a list of “cutbacks”— raids on other state funds collected for a wide range of purposes for the purposes of filling a fiscal hole. Fully half of the $1.3 billion... Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, over 65 people joined us at our office for a TOD Talk hosted by the Young Innovators, our associate board, and the Young Professionals in Transportation. The event featured a panel discussion on what can make transit-oriented development work for all ages. It featured expert panelists from three generations: Millennial Kyle Smith, CNT’s Economic Development Project Manager; Gen-Xer Andrew Vesselinovitch, Urban Designer and Project Manager at Ross Barney Architects... Read the rest of this entry »

CNT commends Blair Kamin for his excellent article on transit-oriented development (TOD) in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune. He focuses on the new apartment building at 1611 W. Division, across from the Milwaukee/Division Blue Line station, that does not include a parking garage. Kamin’s article does an excellent job of highlighting an issue that the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has worked hard on advancing smart TOD. In 2013, CNT published a report on TOD in the... Read the rest of this entry »

CHICAGO – Even though gas prices are down, costs for transportation are still high. How much we spend is based on where we live, according to data gathered by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) through the new version of its groundbreaking Housing and Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Index. The New York City region came in 1st, with the Chicago and Washington DC metro areas coming in at 2nd and 3rd respectively on the list for metropolitan areas of a million or... Read the rest of this entry »

Chicago’s northern suburbs are falling short in efforts to capitalize on the economic growth potential of building mixed-income TOD, according to our latest report. The report, Quality of Life, (e)Quality of Place, wasreleased today by CNT and the nonprofit Open Communities. CTA and Metra stops anchor most north suburban downtowns. Quality of Life, (e)Quality of Place found that mixed-income housing in those downtowns can boost neighborhood property values,... Read the rest of this entry »

A recent CNN Money series showcased the most innovative cities in America. Chicago came in at #4, in part because “…[Chicago’s] Center for Neighborhood Technology has contributed to innovations on the local level, like car-sharing and energy efficiency in homes.” Wow. We’re honored! But wait, there’s more: CNT also had a hand in projects inMinneapolis and Cleveland, two more cities on the most innovative list. We’re very proud to see our work recognized on the national stage.... Read the rest of this entry »

The November 4 Illinois gubernatorial election is just around the corner. While there are many important topics being debated, we’re hearing next to nothing about funding for improved and expanded public transportation. For CNT, our Transit Future campaign, and the nearly half a million Cook County residents stranded in transit deserts, this is a critical issue. Our Transit Future partner organization, Active Transportation Alliance, even went as far as to offer ... Read the rest of this entry »

For the average household, transportation is the second-highest expense after housing. In large, dense cities, public transit availability can dramatically decrease transportation costs. But what about smaller places – quiet suburbs, rural communities, regional centers – that don’t have the same level of public transit service? How can leaders in these communities find ways to reduce transportation costs to help low- and middle-income residents get ahead? A recent HUD publication ... Read the rest of this entry »