News Updates

Over $290 million in transportation investments to benefit northeastern Illinois

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Board and MPO Policy Committee recently approved more than $290 million in federal funds to advance 40 projects over 5 years. This regional investment will strengthen transit, roads, and bridges, as well as bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The projects will rebuild roads, bridges, and train stations; add electric locomotives; expand bike and pedestrian facilities; and reduce delays at intersections and railroad crossings. 

The full lists of approved projects are available on the transportation call for projects page. 

Funding for these projects is made available through the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) Shared Fund, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program, and the locally programmed Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP-L). 

These three programs support the environment, regional mobility, and quality of life by improving regional air quality, nonmotorized transportation options for residents, and large-scale, regional priorities that advance the goals of ON TO 2050, CMAP’s long-range plan for northeastern Illinois. 

• The 8 projects being funded through the STP-Shared Fund total more than $68 million. They will improve facilities and infrastructure that serve more than 7.9 million jobs and households across northeastern Illinois. 

• The 27 projects being funded through the CMAQ program total more than $175 million. They are estimated to eliminate 13 kilograms daily of volatile organic compound emissions, which are precursors to ground-level ozone that is harmful to breathe. 

• The 5 projects being funded through the TAP-L program total more than $51 million. They will help complete the Regional Greenways and Trails Plan, which calls for a network of continuous greenway and trail corridors throughout northeastern Illinois. 

Transportation experts and stakeholders from across the region reviewed 88 applications from this year’s call for projects. CMAP’s STP and CMAQ project selection committees considered funding recommendations, which were released for a 30-day public comment period.