Past Plans

As northeastern Illinois’ metropolitan planning organization, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and its predecessor, the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), have created long-range transportation and comprehensive plans for the region. CATS published seven long-range transportation plans from its inception in 1955 until it was replaced by CMAP in 2006.

View archive copies of previous transportation and regional plans below.

GO TO 2040

GO TO 2040 was adopted on October 13, 2010. Designed to guide development and investment decisions through mid-century and beyond, the plan seeks to strategically align public policies and investments, maximizing the benefits of scarce resources as the region adds more than 2 million new residents by 2040.

GO TO 2040 short plan (2010)

GO TO 2040 full plan (2010)

GO TO 2040 (2014 update summary)

GO TO 2040 (2014 update appendices)

2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Northeastern Illinois

The 2030 Regional Transportation Plan was adopted in October 2003. The capital element of the plan was updated in 2006, and the strategic element in 2007. Periodic amendments continued through 2008, when CMAP’s focus turned fully to developing GO TO 2040.

2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Northeastern Illinois (2003)

2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Northeastern Illinois (2008 update)

2020 Regional Transportation Plan

This plan, created in 1997, reflected increased emphases on public involvement, fiscal constraint, and environmental concerns. The plan included several “Corridors for Further Study.” The 2000 update maintained the direction of the original 2020 plan, and complied with federal regulations then in place requiring an update every three years.

2020 Regional Transportation Plan (1997)

2020 Regional Transportation Plan (2000 update)

2010 Transportation System Development Plan for Northeastern Illinois

This plan continued to reflect limited financial resources for meeting future transportation needs, but also some progress on major project recommendations. The plan included several “Corridors of the Future.”

2010 Transportation System Development Plan for Northeastern Illinois (1990)

Year 2000 Transportation System Development Plan

This plan put increasing emphasis on financial capacity and public involvement in the planning process. The 1981 update, composed of supplementary material, focused on demonstrating the need for additional financial resources for transportation in an era of cutbacks. The 1984 plan was a reprint of the plan adopted in 1980, but incorporating updates adopted in 1981 and 1983.

Year 2000 Transportation System Development Plan (1980)

Year 2000 Transportation System Development Plan (1981 update)

Year 2000 Transportation System Development Plan (1984 update)

1995 Transportation System Plan

This plan was adopted by CATS and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) as their respective regional transportation plans. This plan was the first adopted in the context of federal requirements based on the original CATS model for metropolitan transportation planning. This plan was the first adopted as an update to a previously adopted long-range plan, now a standard practice.

1995 Transportation System Plan (1974)

1995 Transportation System Plan (1976 update)

Regional Transportation Interim Plan and Program

This plan expanded the study area to six counties in northeastern Illinois and two counties in northwestern Indiana. Aviation and freight planning were included as components of the plan.

Regional Transportation Interim Plan and Program (1971)

Chicago Area Transportation Study, Volume 3

This plan, with a horizon year of 1980, was adopted in 1962. The study area primarily covered Cook and DuPage counties. Volumes 1 and 2 included pioneering technical analysis in urban transportation.

Chicago Area Transportation Study, Volume 3 (1962)