The threat of climate change has not guided transportation planning in Chicago, and the city and region could be doing much more to promote sustainable transportation, according to the article.
Courtney Cobb argues that policies and plans to support sustainable transportation are lacking in the Chicago region. "Curious about what the state of Illinois has its website about the subject, I went to the ‘Climate Change in Illinois’ page and did not see transportation listed as a sector where the state is committed to taking action when it comes to climate change."
Other places have taken proactive steps to address transportation and climate change, says Cobb. For example, Vancouver, Canada, has stepped up its goal to have two-thirds of trips made by biking, walking, and transit, and the state of California is working to reduce transportation emissions. "We are headed in the opposite direction of reducing transportation related emissions [in Illinois] by expanding highways and funnelling the majority of transportation funds into car-centric infrastructure," she notes.
"What would a state, city, and county transportation system look like if it was designed with climate change in mind?" asks Cobb. She offers a long list of measures and strategies that she would like to see implemented in Chicago and surrounding areas—including parking and congestion charges, an increase in the gas tax, and more funding for sustainable transportation infrastructure.
FULL STORY: We should be planning our transportation system as if the planet mattered
Friday Funny: The Onion Satirizes the Federal Government’s Electric Car Fetish
The totally satirical, not-at-all-real website The Onion is back with another planning-related fake news take.
Chicago Updating its Climate Action Plan for 2022
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Earth Day announced the forthcoming release of a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the effects of climate change.
Partisan Splits for Transportation Politics
Researchers found that while left-leaning respondents were more likely to favor transportation reform and sustainable modes, conservatives are not as far behind as we think.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research