Date: March 20, 2002

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Chicago Area Transportation Study

Stephen Alexander, Chicago State University

Chuck Allen, AAA-Chicago Motor Club

Brian Banks, Policy Research Action Group

Kim Grimshaw Bolton, Metropolitan Planning Council

Tony Bowman, Pace

Steve Call, Federal Highway Administration

Felicia Dawson, Bethel New Life

Jo Ann Eckmann, Lake County Citizen/Chair

Arlene J. Mulder, Council of Mayors/Village of Arlington Heights

Ruth Ann Payne, Illinois Department of Transportation

Dave Seglin, Chicago Department of Transportation

John Allen, CATS

Jock Hardy, CATS

Suzanne Lanzafame, CATS

LynnToi Lawson, CATS

Jill Leary, West Central Municipal Conference

Veronica Lopez, CATS

Michelle McFarland-McDaniels, CATS

Jan Metzger, Center for Neighborhood Technology

Eugene Ryan, CATS

Melissa Smiley, CATS

Anita Torres, CATS

Kermit Wies, CATS

Meeting Notes from January 16, 2002

The minutes were approved.

MWW

Larry Zoeller started the meeting by giving a brief overview of MWW. The MWW team that will be assisting consists of Larry Zoeller, Cheryl Costanzo, Charlie Fisher and Chris Lackner and Linda Zeilenga.

Charlie Fisher discussed the three tasks that MWW would carry out. They were:

To compare and contrast CATS and three other MPOs. These MPOs would likely be in Washington D.C., Wilmington, Delaware and San Francisco, California.

Identify specific interests community-wide and through the political and geographic scope. Three focus groups will be held. One in Chicago, one in a suburban community and one in a rural community.

The final task is to fill out and produce a comprehensive report that provides analysis and recommendations.

The schedule for these tasks has been not been finished yet. Mid May is the expected start date for this. There will be a first phase of the report at the May 22, 2002 PITF meeting.

The task force had concerns regarding the cities that were chosen for comparing and contrasting with CATS.

Mr. Zoeller stated that if the cities don't work for CATS then they would look elsewhere.

Mr. Banks wanted to make sure that the cities chosen had diversity of the metropolitan area. He felt that transportation is a major issue for lower income communities because of the need to get to jobs. Mr. Banks pointed out that transportation is vital to the economic well being of a community.

Ms. Metzger felt that the consultants should look at one or more Midwest cities. She cited St. Louis as a diverse Midwest city that had some techniques CATS could look at, for example the MPO out there has a Bridges to Work program. Mayor Mulder agreed that it might be a good idea to look at the St. Louis MPO.

Mr. Ryan said that we could take techniques from several MPOs while delving into three main areas. He agreed that if any of the areas are not applicable then another area would be looked at. Mr. Fisher agreed that they would pick up information from other MPOs.

Ms. Eckmann suggested to the task force that we could possibly look at St. Louis as one of the three areas, rather than Wilmington, Delaware. The task force agreed on this.

Mr. Banks said that Chicago has a very unique political culture and that we need to look at three cities that also have a strong political culture. He gave the example of Pittsburgh being a city that is more corporate than political.

Ms. Metzger agreed that we need to look at areas similar to ours in diversity, political, culture and economic range. She also asked the consultants whether or not they would be looking at the MPO policymaking body. MWW stated that they would be looking at that.

Ms. Metzer then asked the consultants whether or not they felt that public involvement was separate from public information. There were differing views on this, but many felt that the public needed to be educated before they would become involved.

The task force agreed to substitute St. Louis for Wilmington, Delaware for MPO research. The task force also agreed that the consultants should look at demographics, political structure, diversity and economic climate.

The consultants are to present to the task force questions that are going to be asked of the focus groups and the general public. They are presenting for consistency and accuracy.

Media Masters

Susan Laue introduced the Media Masters team and gave a brief background. The consultants that will be working with CATS along with Ms. Laue are Stephanie Reith, Nancy Gidwitz, Bruce Kerr, Bonnie McPhedran and Margaret Teran.

Media Masters then discussed several preliminary observations, such as the technical planning process, overall stakeholder outreach, outreach to underserved communities, environmental justice, media strategy, public meetings, the CATS Web site, computer resources and graphics.

The consultants discussed public involvement through various meetings with organizations, community and advocacy groups. By 2003, they plan on having actual comments on draft time, and then by September 2003 there will be public comments on the plan.

Media Masters will also be going over the mailing list and making additions or deletions. The want to broaden CATS reach with such additions as local officials, citizens, senior citizen groups, minority businesses, church affiliated groups and emergency service providers. The consultants plan on targeting local transportation needs for the public meetings and keeping the public involved for the long haul.

Media Masters felt that the info on the web was for those who are already familiar with CATS. They would like to make the site more visually assessable by using visible cues to invite participation.

Mayor Mulder suggested that the meetings be much more publicized. A short video for the communities is a good method for this.

Mr. Ryan pointed out that the PITF would have a chance to make recommendations. The RTP committee wants direction from the task force.

The preliminary proposal will be done by April 11, 2002. Media Masters will be added to the April 17, 2002 PITF agenda.

The consultants asked the task force to provide lists of potential stakeholders to be interviewed.

Media Masters will submit a proposal to the PITF for review. A copy will be forwarded to members when available before the April meeting.

The Chairman requested that task force members be sent a copy of the CATS certification results.

Steve Call, FHWA

Mr. Call explained that every three years the planning process needs to be certified by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transportation Administration. There was not enough time for Mr. Call to go into details on this. He will be first on the agenda for the next PITF meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 9:00 am at the Chicago Area Transportation Study.

*These are draft minutes that have not yet been approved.