FY 2000 CMAQ PROJECTS RELEASED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT

CHICAGO--More than $65 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement funds have been recommended by the CMAQ Project Selection Committee of the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), including money for the commuter parking, transit station improvements, bike lanes, bottleneck elimination, traffic signal coordination, and other projects.

The CMAQ program provides a flexible funding source to state and local governments for transportation projects to reduce traffic congestion and help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Northeastern Illinois is currently classified as a severe non-attainment area for ozone.

Some of this year's projects include:

• Expansion of commuter parking lots at Hegewisch, East Hazel Crest, Aurora, National St. and Antioch Metra stations.
• An innovative car-sharing pilot program, in which registered participants can use a car for errands such as going to the grocery store.
• Expansion of the CTA U-Pass program to more Chicago area colleges and universities.
• Expansion of the Wendella Boats summertime commuter service from the West Loop to Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier.
• Variable message signs on Lake Shore Drive.
• Renovation of CTA Red Line station at Washington-Madison, and transfer tunnels between the Red and Blue lines.
• Improvements to the IL 53 interchange with the Dundee Road, as well as traffic flow improvements in the Huntley , Bartlett, Napervile, University Park, Vernon Hills, Northbrook, and other municipalities throughout the region.
• Improvement in the signal timings on Western Avenue in Chicago and on other streets throughout the region.

CATS Welcomes public review and comment on the FY 2000 CMAQ program from noon October 8, 1999 to November 5, 1999 at 4:00 p.m.  The entire list of CMAQ projects is available at CATS, 300 W. Adams St., Chicago IL 60606, by calling the Communication Division at (312)793-3460, or by logging on to the CATS Web site at www.catsmpo.com.

The Chicago Area Transportation Study is the official Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for northeastern Illinois, designated by state and local officials to carry out the urban transportation planning process for the region.  The region includes all of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties plus a portion of Kendall County.