April 7, 1999

CHICAGO AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (CATS) HOLDING OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

CHICAGO-- The Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) will hold an Open House at their offices on Wednesday, April 14 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. CATS staff will be there to discuss public involvement strategies and give tours of the new CATS Web site.

The Open House is part of a continuing effort to expand citizen participation in the regional transportation planning process. CATS recently distributed a draft of the updated Public Involvement Plan, the proposed strategy for increasing citizen participation. The text of the plan can be found on the new CATS Web site at www.catsmpo.com. The public review and comment period for the plan runs through April 28.

In addition to the formal Public Involvement Plan, CATS will soon be publishing a "Citizens Guide to Transportation Planning in Northeastern Illinois," an easy-to-read primer for getting involved in the transportation decision-making process. The booklet will outline areas of opportunity for citizens to contribute to the regional planning dialogue, and coach citizens through every step of the process.

"The language of transportation planning is filled with complicated acronyms, and sometimes we don’t even realize we’re talking in code," said Linda Bolte, CATS Deputy for Planning. "But it’s our responsibility as planners to make the language understandable to everyone, and we hope to gain some insights at the Open House by talking with citizens and asking them as many questions as they ask us."

For more information about the CATS Open House, CATS Online, or the proposed Public Involvement Plan, contact the CATS Communications Division at (312) 793-3460.