Archive for the 'Featured Portfolio News' Category
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
On Monday, June 22, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced a bill that would reauthorize federal surface transportation funding to the tune of $450 billion and reform how the federal government invests in transportation infrastructure. Illinois transportation advocates commend Rep. Oberstar for his leadership on renewing federal surface transportation funding, which expires within a matter of weeks. They are working actively in coalition with Transportation for America (T4America) to help shape the bill so that it goes even further to ensure federal transportation investments help the U.S. and Illinois meet broader economic, energy, climate and health goals.
Today, Illinois and national transportation experts, including CNT’s Vice President for Policy, Jacky Grimshaw hosted a media telebriefing to discuss how the bill would affect Illinois and regional planning, and what specific reforms local advocates are pushing for to ensure Illinois and metropolitan Chicago have the transportation options necessary to remain economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, and socially equitable.
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Policy, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
CNT recently helped to co-author a guide that will help cities and counties to develop a longterm and sustainable energy efficiency and conservation plan and maximize the opportunity for cost savings, environmental benefits, financial leverage and economic development. “Chicago’s Guide to Completing an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy”, was co-authored by the Chicago Department of the Environment, CNT Board Member Julia Parzen of Urban Sustainability Associates and CNT.
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Posted in Energy, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
On May 27, the Illinois Legislature took a significant step toward statewide sustainable water policy by passing the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act, SB 1489. The bill sets the state on a path toward more effective and sustainable urban stormwater management by directing the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to consider standards that prioritize natural drainage approaches known as green infrastructure.
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources, Policy | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
At first glance, cities may appear to be a big source of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. But new research by CNT, which compares greenhouse gas emissions of city and suburban households, yields some surprising results.
CNT looked at emissions of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, stemming from household vehicle travel in 55 metropolitan areas across the U.S. When measured on a per household basis, it found that the transportation-related emissions of people living in cities and compact neighborhoods can be nearly 70% less than those living in suburbs. See how this compares in your region at our newly redesigned Housing + Transportation Affordability Index site.
Read the full Press Release or try out the new site.
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Monday, May 18th, 2009
In response to recent developments in local transportation politics, CNT is reviving the TransitFuture coalition. Created in March 2007 to rally local support to avert the ‘Doomsday’ de-funding of public transportation in Northeastern Illinois, the TransitFuture’s organizing efforts paid off, and the crisis was averted. With the current funding crunch, that victory has revealed itself to be temporary, and the TransitFuture coalition is back in action to organize against the latest batch of harmful budget threats. Stay tuned to our website and listserv to learn how you can help stop Illinois’ budget crisis from doing irreparable damage to the public transportation system.
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, TransitFuture, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Friday, May 8th, 2009
Sprawl has been a fascination with urban planners and historians alike, and is now gaining a heightened awareness due to the many linkages that can be drawn between the higher transportation costs one incurs to their ’sprawled out’ distance from an urban core. Current legislative initiatives like the partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation, mean that policymakers are taking notice of the implications of where we live.
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
April showers may be bringing more than May flowers for sustainable water policy in Illinois, as the legislature is considering adoption of several bills that will expand opportunities for green infrastructure statewide. Passage of these bills would be the beginning of a new season for green practices to capture the extraordinary value of clean water in our state.
The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (SB 1489), CNT’s effort to bring the benefits of natural systems for sustainable stormwater management into state plans, is headed for its first hearing in the Illinois House on Wednesday, April 29, having passed the Senate in March. That bill would instruct Illinois EPA to lead a study to establish state standards and goals for expanded, effective use of green infrastructure in urban areas statewide.
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | No Comments »
Sunday, April 19th, 2009
Syndicated columnist, Neal Peirce, recently covered the groundbreaking collaboration between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).
This important partnership will lead to coordinated efforts in housing and transportation policies and investment. As Pierce puts it, “For federal departments, historically known for working in their own “silos,” largely oblivious to one another, it’s nearly a revolutionary step.” Better connecting working class people to their jobs has been lacking in existing policy and the agencies will now work to link where people live with how they travel around.
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Scott Bernstein, President of CNT, was invited to participate in a public announcement of President Barack Obama’s national high-speed rail (HSR) master plan. The President, joined by Vice President Joe Biden, who has commuted to D.C. on rail every day for his national elected career, thanked the select group of leaders who have been working tirelessly on bringing high-speed rail to the United States. President Obama presented a vision that challenges Americans to imagine traveling at 100 mph or more by train, then making local connections by walking or transit. “The Obama administration is moving quickly to advance high-speed rail as the most sustainable and cost-efficient mode of innercity transit,” said Bernstein. “By investing in high-speed rail, the Obama administration is not only addressing transportation issues but also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
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Posted in Climate, Featured Portfolio News, PCAP, Scott Bernstein | No Comments »
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
CNT CEO, Kathryn Tholin, joined U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Max Muller, Program Director for Environment Illinois, in outlining how President Obama’s budget “means a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for Illinois.” Tholin applauded the commitment to a clean energy future reflected in the President’s budget, and helped outline Environment Illinois new report, “Vision 2010: President Obama’s Budget, Clean Energy and the Environment”, released today at a press conference at CNT.
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