“By definition, families living in affordable housing are guaranteed that their housing costs will not exceed 30 percent of their income, but transportation costs can negate that affordability if housing agencies aren’t careful about location decisions,” said Kathryn Tholin, CEO of CNT. “Illinois has made gains in siting affordable housing in communities that meet fair housing goals. Our report reveals that we could do better, by choosing locations that offer greater access to employment, better transportation connectivity, and improved access to amenities.”

CNT applied our Housing and Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Index to 248 multifamily properties financed by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) from 2001 to 2008 in the Chicago region. The study reveals the average transportation costs in these locations and measures the degree to which residents enjoyed access to local amenities, regional jobs, public transit, and other opportunities—all major factors in the affordability equation. Safe, Decent and Affordable pulls together key findings and recommendations that IHDA can use to help improve access to jobs, lower transportation costs, and enhance livability for its affordable housing residents.

Read more in the press release, including key findings and recommendations ››
Download Safe, Decent and Affordable ››

Finally! The long overdue transportation reauthorization bill is at last going somewhere. Three years ago, CNT and our national partners, such as Transportation for America, began working with various users and operators of our transportation systems, business leaders, and political leaders to gather information about what worked and what did not work in the last national transportation legislation.

We shared what we learned with Members of Congress, who are responsible for the re-authorization and funding of the federal transportation legislation. The U.S. House of Representatives has released its transportation bill to the public. They listened to some of what we told them, but they failed to address some crucial needs. In particular, it looks like they forgot that this is supposed to be a transportation bill that serves all users of the transportation network—transit riders, cyclists, pedestrians, car sharers—and assures that they get where they are going safely. The bill as drafted fails to do that.

On February 2rd, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will start finalizing their version of the bill. In particular, CNT and our partners believe that two amendments should be added:

• The first would restore funding for safe biking and walking
• The second would make repairing the nation’s deficient bridges a priority.

Please take a moment to contact your Member of Congress now and tell him or her to support those two amendments. Our elected leaders need to know that the public is paying attention and wants better transportation for all modes of travel.

“Gas prices remain high, and there’s no sign of relief as the year progresses. Public transportation is an affordable and convenient way for people to get where they need to go save money in the process,” said President Toni Preckwinkle. “TRIP makes it even more cost-effective for people to travel by bus or train and we encourage employers and employees to sign up.”

Normally, employees earn their income, are taxed, and then pay to ride transit to get to work. With employers offering a pre-tax transit benefit program through TRIP, employees can lower their tax burden by hundreds of dollars per year, depending on their transit costs and tax bracket. In addition to saving employees money increased transit use helps reduce congestion and improve air quality.

“The Center for Neighborhood Technology and RTA answered our questions, walked us through the initial process, and supported us in offering our employees transit benefits,” said Kathi Roccanova, Daley, Mohan and Groble’s office manager. “Our employees love the tax savings and we love being able to offer them this monthly benefit.”

TRIP benefits employers as well. Participating businesses will reduce their payroll taxes while providing a valuable benefits program to their employees. Between now and February 10th, Cook County employers that join TRIP will receive direct payouts that can total hundreds of dollars. Participating employers will receive:
• $30 for any new employee who signs up for the pre-tax transit benefits.
• An additional $200 for companies that are introducing a pre-tax transit benefit program for the first time and enroll five of more employees.

CNT, which helps administer TRIP, provides one-on-one consultation with businesses interested in enrolling in the program, addresses company concerns, and walks through the initial steps in providing these low-cost, money-saving, employee benefits.

Companies and employees are encouraged to visit www.lesstaxingcommute.com to learn more about pre-tax transit benefits and TRIP or contact James Drew jdrew@cnt.org for more information.

A new incentive will provide $50 in transit credit for people who get the Chicago Card Plus I-GO card before Feb. 29.

Between now and February 29, people who sign up for a joint Chicago Card Plus I-GO card for use on the CTA and in I-GO Car Sharing vehicles will receive $50 in transit credit and a heavily discounted I-GO membership. The Chicago Card Plus I-GO card is the only one of its kind in the nation, allowing a seamless transfer between public transit and a car sharing vehicle.

Participants can enroll at http://tinyurl.com/ye6flbe ››

“If you’ve been thinking about ditching your car and simplifying your life with transit and car sharing, there’s never been a better time to make the leap,” said Kathryn Tholin, director of Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), which is administering the incentive program on behalf of Cook County. “Owning a car is expensive, a hassle, and can have a large carbon footprint. Using integrated transit and car sharing instead of owning a car is good for people’s budgets, stress levels, and the environment.”

Chicago Card Plus I-GO incentive at a glance:

• Ends February 29, 2012
• Applicants must be new I-GO members and pass a driving record check
• I-GO membership is $15 (a savings of $60)
• $50 in transit fare credit loaded to card within 10 days after application approval.

The Cook County Department of Environmental Control is administering the program in coordination with CNT. Funding for this initiative is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to promote sustainable transportation options.

Read the full press release ››
Learn more about this offer ››

CNT helped develop a sustainable transportation plan to reduce carbon emissions in the city of Oberlin over the next 40 years. After the jump, you can see the 10 strategies to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.

10 strategies to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050 include:

1. Promote walking as a major mode of transportation in Oberlin. Currently, 32 percent of trips to work are made on foot.
2. Increase bicycling’s share of trips in Oberlin. Six percent of residents bike to work today.
3. Create public transportation options. This includes stabilizing and growing the Oberlin Connector, which runs on Mondays and Thursdays. Lorain County is the only county in Ohio that lacks a dedicated revenue stream for public transit.
4. Promote fuels and vehicles that can reduce motorized transportation’s carbon profile to zero or nearly zero. Given that Oberlin is expected to acquire 85 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2013, great electric vehicle usage and expanded infrastructure could help Oberlin reduce carbon emissions.
5. Encourage people to use alternate modes of transportation and take fewer and shorter trips by reduce car ownership. Eighty-three percent of Oberliners own at least one car. CNT recommends that Oberlin expand its car sharing program to include at least 4,000 students and residents.
6. Reduce the number of driving trips Oberlin workers and residents need to take. This includes telecommuting, videoconferencing, and combining trips. If 18 percent of employees were to eliminate one trip to work weekly by 2050, it would reduce 1.5 million vehicle miles traveled and save 411 metric tons of emitted carbon dioxide annually.
7. Encourage land use and urban form that supports reduced car ownership, fewer and shorter trips and alternative transportation modes. Households living in downtown Oberlin drive 6,100 miles less per year than families living in other parts of Oberlin. CNT recommends reversing current trends toward low-density development at the outskirts of the city.
8. Change parking infrastructure and policies to incentivize low-carbon transportation. Most of Oberlin’s parking is free or subsidized by employers. Employers could allow employees to opt for payment equal to the value of free or subsidized parking to put low-carbon transportation on equal footing.
9. Encourage use of low-carbon solutions for cargo transport to and from Oberlin. Implementing green procurement standards along Oberlin businesses’ supply chains can help reduce the carbon footprint of cargo transport.
10. Create options for low-carbon long distance travel to and from Oberlin. CNT estimates that long distance travel accounts for nearly a third of Oberlin’s total transportation emissions footprint. Although high speed rail and low-emissions plane travel isn’t something Oberlin can do on its own, it can collaborate regionally to promote low-carbon alternatives to driving.

The figure below illustrates the relative savings in fossil fuels from the implementation of each strategy at the three benchmark years (Strategy 10 is not included in the figure because emissions from travel outside of Oberlin’s boundaries were not part of CNT’s analysis). Note that reduced vehicle ownership provides the greatest fossil fuel savings of all the approaches. Although no single strategy moves Oberlin to a zero carbon transportation future, the combined savings from all strategies can accomplish that goal.

Download the RFP ››
Download Attachment A: Fundamental Structural Proposals for the Southland Community Development Fund from Chicago Area and Southland Financial Advisors ››

I-GO recently announced its groundbreaking electric vehicle project that will add 36 all-electric vehicles to its fleet and 18 solar charging stations to provide clean power to its cars. Once completed, I-GO will have the largest electric vehicle fleet in the Midwest, and it will use more solar power to charge electric vehicles than anywhere else in the country.

“CTA has long supported initiatives that reduce emissions and promote sustainability—two main goals of the transit services we offer,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “Car sharing is a great complement to public transit.”

“I-GO is committed to being at the forefront of car sharing technology and sustainability, and providing pollution-free electric vehicles to our members is part of that commitment,” said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-GO. “Our forward-looking public and private sector partners understand the value of clean transportation options and are working with I-GO to make them available to their customers and constituents.”

Each solar charging station will form a canopy that covers four parking spaces and will be able to power two electric vehicles. The Kimball canopy will cover two electric cars, one regular low-emissions I-GO vehicle, and one spot for the general public. Each canopy will be topped with 44 solar panels, for a capacity of 10 kilowatts. In aggregate, the canopies will produce about 200,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, which will power as much as 600,000 miles driven per year. As a result, I-GO and its members could save as many as 17,000 gallons of gasoline each year. The company 350Green will install the solar canopies. To see a rendering of the canopies, visit: http://www.igocars.org/2011/11/30/solar-canopies/

Today’s announcement marks the latest effort by CTA to promote car-sharing services as a complement to public transit. In 2009, the CTA and I-GO began offering a joint smart card that allows a seamless transfer between public transit and an I-GO vehicle. The Chicago Card Plus I-GO card is the only one of its kind in the nation.

In addition to the new CTA location at the Kimball Brown Line stop, the other solar canopy locations include

• JEWEL-OSCO at 5516 N. Clark
• JEWEL-OSCO at 5343 N. Broadway
• JEWEL-OSCO at 101 W. 87th Street
• JEWEL-OSCO at 438 W. Madison, Oak Park
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #3 at 1702 Chicago Avenue
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #4 at 2122 Central Street
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #32 at 825 Hinman Avenue
• Village of Oak Park lot in the 1100 block of North Boulevard, between Marion and Forest
• Village of Oak Park Village Hall at 123 Madison
• Uncommon Ground at 1401 West Devon
• Illinois Institute of Technology at 3201 S. State Street

Formed in 2002, I-GO has 15,000 members and more than 200 locations in 35 neighborhoods and four suburbs throughout the Chicago region. Members pay for cars by the hour (around $8.50), and gas is included in the hourly fee (as is insurance). A typical I-GO member spends about $2,520 per year on transportation, roughly $5,000 less than what the average American spends annually to own, operate, and maintain a car.

To join I-GO, visit igocars.org.

“This important project will convert an industrial area into valuable open space that gives area families a place to gather, play and experience the great outdoors,” Gov. Quinn said.

The Calumet Core Reserve will focus on improving the environment, economy and community. Efforts include:

Environment

• Managing and restoring the 6,000 acres of natural areas that contain important high-quality biological communities and support over 20 rare plants and 40 rare animal species.
• Completing and connecting 53 miles of trails and wildlife corridors throughout the area
• Expanding and connecting natural areas and habitats with green infrastructure.

Economy

• Modernizing the Illinois International Port District and creating thousands of new jobs.
• Creating a destination region for tourists and visitors that will generate tourism jobs.
• Increasing property values for home owners near the Reserve.

Community

• Reclaiming more than 3,500 acres of underutilized lands and brownfields.
• Increasing opportunities for kids to be physically active.

The Millennium Reserve and its initial Calumet Core Phase closely align with CNT’s work with leaders in Chicago’s south suburbs. The Green TIME Zone of Chicago’s Southland is a strategy through which older communities can translate the value of their established rail infrastructure and manufacturing capacity into desirable neighborhoods, good jobs, and environmental improvement.

The strategy is built on three linked mechanisms for sustainable redevelopment: transit-oriented development (TOD) to establish livable communities, cargo-oriented development (COD) to capture the economic benefits of intermodal freight movements, and green manufacturing to build a healthy economy with a bright future. Read the full Green TIME Zone of Chicago’s Southland report here. Read the specific environmental benefits the Green TIME Zone will provide to the Calumet region here.

The Millennium Reserve Initiative is part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to reconnect people to the nation’s rich outdoor treasures. The effort will initially focus on transforming the Calumet region of Chicago into a one-of-a-kind public destination with over 15,000 acres of open space. It honors our cultural and industrial past while protecting and restoring natural ecosystems and supporting healthy and prosperous communities.

I-GO, Chicago’s nonprofit car sharing organization, has launched a $2.5 million electric vehicle project that will add 36 all-electric vehicles to its fleet and 18 solar charging stations providing clean power to its cars. Once completed, I-GO will have the largest electric vehicle fleet in the Midwest, and it will use more solar power to charge electric vehicles than anywhere else in the country.

I-GO is today announcing the locations of 11 solar-powered charging stations throughout the Chicago region, including several JEWEL-OSCO stores, the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Village of Oak Park, the City of Evanston, and Uncommon Ground restaurant. The remaining seven locations will be announced soon. The canopies will be installed in early 2012.

“I-GO is committed to being at the forefront of car sharing technology and sustainability, and providing pollution-free electric vehicles to our members is part of that commitment,” said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-GO. “Our forward-looking public and private sector partners understand the value of clean transportation options and are working with I-GO to make them available to their customers and constituents.”

Each solar charging station will form a canopy that covers four parking spaces and will be able to power two electric vehicles. Two spaces will be reserved for I-GO at each location, and the others will be available to the public. Each canopy will be topped with 44 solar panels, for a capacity of 10 kilowatts. In aggregate, the canopies will produce about 200,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, which will power as much as 600,000 miles driven per year. As a result, I-GO and its members could save as many as 17,000 gallons of gasoline each year. The company 350Green will install the solar canopies. To see a rendering of the canopies, visit: http://www.igocars.org/2011/11/30/solar-canopies/.

“We are committed to serving our customers in the greenest way possible, and providing solar-powered electric car sharing is a fun and innovative way for us to achieve that goal,” said JEWEL-OSCO President Brian Huff.  “With I-GO and the accompanying charging stations, many of our customers who do not own cars will have a convenient way to take their groceries home, while also lowering their carbon footprint by using solar-powered electric vehicles.”

The solar canopy locations include

• JEWEL-OSCO at 5516 N. Clark
• JEWEL-OSCO at 5343 N. Broadway
• JEWEL-OSCO at 101 W. 87th Street
• JEWEL-OSCO at 438 W. Madison, Oak Park
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #3 at 1702 Chicago Avenue
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #4 at 2122 Central Street
• City of Evanston Municipal Lot #32 at 825 Hinman Avenue
• Village of Oak Park lot in the 1100 block of North Boulevard, between Marion and Forest
• Village of Oak Park Village Hall at 123 Madison
• Uncommon Ground at 1401 West Devon
• Illinois Institute of Technology at 3201 S. State Street

I-GO’s solar-powered electric vehicle project has been made possible by grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Chicago Area Clean Cities Partnership, and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

Formed in 2002, I-GO has 15,000 members and more than 200 locations in 35 neighborhoods and four suburbs throughout the Chicago region. Members pay for cars by the hour (around $8.50), and gas is included in the hourly fee (as is insurance). A typical I-GO member spends about $2,520 per year on transportation, roughly $5,000 less than what the average American spends annually to own, operate, and maintain a car.

I-GO offers a joint smart card with the CTA that allows a seamless transfer between public transit and an I-GO vehicle. The Chicago Card Plus I-GO card is the only one of its kind in the nation. Seventy-three percent of I-GO members either sell a car or postpone a decision to buy one after joining I-GO.

In addition to saving its members money, I-GO reduces traffic congestion, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality, and promotes healthy lifestyles and neighborhoods. To join I-GO, visit igocars.org.

The essay by Bernstein and Center for Wisconsin Strategies Director Joel Rogers argues for finding new ways to invest public and private capital to fund much-needed infrastructure improvements that will create jobs while strengthening communities. The authors cite two case studies as models for public-private investment—the Los Angeles plan to finance and expand its transit service in 10 years over the typical 30 and the Energy Savers program in Chicago that provides a revolving low-interest loan fund for energy efficiency retrofits of multifamily apartment buildings.

The authors lay out three steps for how governments and institutions can leverage private investment for infrastructure upgrades:

1. Provide capacity assessments and compensating technical assistance to local and state governments;
2. Provide a federal risk-sharing partner that can attract private capital and federal and state relief from unreasonable rules that slow or prevent deals; and
3. Support joint learning and advocacy among community and regional leaders, so they can more effectively partner with the federal government, business, and community in developing a national infrastructure strategy.

Stay tuned for more information from CNT on innovative ways to finance infrastructure that fosters sustainability, both economic and environmental.