RTA Community Planning and CMAP Technical Assistance Program

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) offers a Planning Technical Assistance Program that supports local governments and community partners within the seven-county northeastern Illinois region. This initiative aligns with CMAP's regional comprehensive plan, ON TO 2050, and aims to empower communities to enhance equity, resilience, and sustainability through local planning initiatives. Since its inception, the program has delivered over 300 technical assistance projects designed to strengthen community capacity, support planning efforts, and facilitate the pursuit of further implementation funding. The program offers support in various planning domains through a yearly joint call for projects conducted with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). In 2025, CMAP and RTA awarded technical assistance to 30 projects. Types of assistance evolve yearly but typically include support for ADA self-evaluation and transition plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, capital improvement plans, corridor plans, and watershed-based planning. Additional areas include transportation safety planning, grant readiness support, pavement management plans, and plan implementation under the NEXT Program. Each category addresses different local needs, from infrastructure accessibility to multimodal transit planning and water quality improvement. CMAP’s support includes not only technical planning but also helps local governments prepare for future grant opportunities by building consensus around priorities and enhancing readiness for federal or state-level funding. For projects related to previous CMAP or RTA plans, the NEXT Program provides implementation support, helping communities operationalize plans through structured action strategies. Eligibility for the program is limited to local governments within the seven-county northeastern Illinois region, including Chicago community areas. Non-governmental organizations may also apply if they are partnered with a local community. The program is not available outside this geographic scope. Application eligibility is assessed based on alignment with regional goals, community readiness, and the potential for long-term impact. The 2025 application window was open from March 10 through April 4. Although the application period has closed for 2025, the program operates annually, with the next anticipated call for projects expected in 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to subscribe to CMAP’s planning newsletter to be notified when the next call opens. For inquiries or future project ideas, CMAP staff are available year-round at applications@cmap.illinois.gov. The program does not provide direct monetary grants to applicants but instead delivers in-kind technical assistance through CMAP staff or contracted experts. As such, award ceilings and funding totals are not listed. Selected projects receive tailored support in planning or implementation tasks. Additional details about current and past projects are available via an interactive map provided by CMAP.