Mayor Lori Lightfoot is readying a new capital investment plan that will spur the local economy and change the way the city apportions its infrastructure funding.
"Mayor Lori Lightfoot is putting the final touches on a multibillion-dollar capital plan that will help aldermen stretch their $1.32 million allotment of 'menu money' and put their constituents to work," report Fran Spielman.
"Over the years, capital plans have been more like political documents. With no overall needs assessment, projects have landed on the city’s list because they were the mayor’s favorites. That won’t be the case going forward," according to information Spielman credits to Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th).
Additional coverage on the mayor's capital investment plan this week is available from Courtney Cobbs, who writes: "the plan is intended to address a capital funding shortage that has been building for years, and projects will be approved based on a needs assessment, rather than whether or not they happened to be well-received by the mayor, as has been the case in past years."
Process reforms will have to suffice, rather than spending at the levels estimated to meet the need in the city. When Spielman revealed the mayor's intentions to create a new capital investment plan in an article published in August, city officials expected the funding total to fall well short of the $4.4 billion the city needs to maintain its streets, bridges, buildings. and vehicles.
FULL STORY: Lightfoot preparing multibillion-dollar capital spending plan
‘We Will Chicago’ Plan Adopted in the Windy City
Chicago has its first “comprehensive plan” since the 1960s, but without a land use map, the “We Will Chicago” plan is devoted more to laying out the issues and challenges facing the city than setting new policies.
Nascar Set to Race the Streets of Chicago Starting in 2023
Nascar races are a series of loops. Chicago has The Loop. Chicago also has a heated debate about traffic safety that probably doesn't have room for sponsored cars doing speeds upward of 100.
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.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.
Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.
Can Progressive Planners Appeal to Conservative Principles?
Trump’s approach to policies like NYC’s congestion pricing isn’t just irrational and wasteful — it defies the tenets of conservatism. But there are ways to reframe the issues.
Oak Park Plans Earth Month Events
Join Oak Park, Illinois, for a series of Earth Month events highlighting the importance of community engagement and education, integrating sustainability into local plans, and planning for the most vulnerable, such as birds, bees and butterflies.
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.
Florida Atlantic University
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland