A collaborative planning effort began July 24th with a kick-off meeting. The Homes for a Changing Region project team is made up of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) and the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC). This project is part of CMAP's Local Technical Assistance Program. The Kane County Planning Division is providing assistance to the three above-mentioned agencies and is making this policy plan possible for what has been termed the Central Fox Valley Communities (St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and North Aurora). This effort is a great example of how the Kane County Planning Cooperative can "fill in the gaps" to help county municipalities achieve their goals.

The County Board approved the endorsement of the Sierra Club's Cool Counties Initiative at their July 9th meeting. This adopted resolution demonstrates extraordinary leadership as the County has now demonstrated support for reducing air pollution, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This endorsement is consistent with, and supports, many recently adopted County plans and studies including the 2040 Plan, The 2040 Energy Plan, the Kane County Operational Sustainability Plan and the Randall / Orchard Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study. 

The Cool Counties Initiative outlines greenhouse gas reduction targets of 10% by the year 2020 and 20% by the year 2030. These reduction targets and their equivalencies are put in context here. Although the County isn't mandated to hit these reduction targets, continued planning and implementation will ensure continued reductions are made and the best interests of our citizens are protected.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) was created with the 2012 passage of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century funding and re-authorization bill. The TAP is meant to support non-motorized transportation. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is using a competitive process to select projects to fund under this program. Any local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for transportation or multi-use trails is eligible and is encouraged to submit proposals. Projects for both bicycle and pedestrian facilities will be considered. Projects will be assessed on the regional benefits they provide and their ability to proceed quickly to construction. This program will not fund Phase I Engineering. In order to be considered for funding, sponsors must submit a final Project Development Report (PDR) to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) by October 15, 2013 or have already received Phase I design approval for their projects. Funding for this project will total $17.5 million. There is no upper or lower limit to funding amounts per project. Only a small number of projects will be selected.  Applicants must provide at least 20% of the total project cost using non-federal sources. These matching funds must already be committed when the project proposal is submitted.