The agency that keeps its eye on the big picture for future transportation needs in the Chicago region has approved its latest update for the use of federal transportation dollars in the decades to come.
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning update includes plans for adding lanes to I-57 between I-80 and Kankakee County starting in 2045; reconstruction work that’s to start in 2030 on the Bishop Ford, Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways; and continued work to expand the CTA Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street.
CMAP executive director Erin Aleman knows there are those who’d rather see more money funneled into public transit and bicycle systems, but she said there are lots of other things to do too.
“We are expecting about 90% of the transportation revenues over the next 30 years to be invested in the existing system and leaving only about 4% for system expansion. So, when you have an old network like we do here in the Chicago region, there’s a lot to maintain,” Aleman said.
Aleman said planners are not ignoring the need to reduce greenhouse gases and invest in mass transit.
“About half of what we project, in terms of transportation revenues to be available over the next 30 years, will be spent on transit improvements, so projects like the CTA Red Line extension south from 95th Street to 130th Street is included in there,” she said.
Aleman also expects a lot more electric vehicles on the road in the next 10 years and said there’s a need to look at where charging stations are put and how local building codes incorporate electric car charging outlets in new housing.
Aleman calls the Chicago area transportation system the region’s economic backbone.
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