Chicago-area agencies announce Earth Day summit

Seven Chicago?region transportation agencies will convene a first?of-its?kind Transportation Summit to improve coordination among the region’s transportation leaders. Nearly 100 leaders have been invited to share their ideas and begin working toward a shared transportation and environmental vision for the region.

The summit will take place on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, at the Spertus Institute in downtown Chicago.

Convened by the chairs of Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Metra, Pace, RTA and Illinois Department of Transportation, participants will include agency heads and board members of these transportation-related entities in the region. Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Richard Daley also are expected to attend. In addition, leadership of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, area county board chairs and the Chicago Department of Transportation leadership have been invited.

The seven transportation agencies are convening the summit because they believe a coordinated and effective transportation system is essential to metropolitan Chicago’s business climate, employment base, quality of life and natural environment and is fundamental to reducing its carbon footprint. The purpose of this summit is to pursue the shared goal of promoting economic growth and environmental quality by operating an integrated and coordinated transportation system that maximizes efficiency, reduces costs and improves service.