December 2022

River Talk: Transformative Development Trends along the Chicago River 
Our widely anticipated annual conference with DePaul’s Real Estate Center, held at the DePaul Conference Center, attracted an audience of 95, and offered a rich contemporary perspective on major developments along the Chicago River. The half-day program covered Lincoln Yards, Southbank, and “The 78”. Speakers included Brian Atkinson, Michael Ellch, John Law, Dean Marks, Angelia Millsap, Bradley Roback, Joseph Schwieterman, Rick Sinkuler, and Theodore Weldon III. Check out our media coverage! Thank you to everyone who participated in this dynamic forum

​​​​​​​​​​Winter Walk with Graduate Students 

Despite the chilly winter weather the Chaddick Team led a small group of graduate students for a walking tour of urban development sites in the Loop. Students were able to experience Chicago's history and cityscape, while partaking in conversation about recent innovations in the Windy City. ​

Chaddick Holiday Party 

To celebrate the holiday season, the Chaddick Institute team hosted the annual holiday party at the Exchequer Pub. Professors William Kling and Joseph Schwieterman made a few remarks about exciting projects currently underway and future directions. With 45 attendees present, there was no absence of lively conversation or holiday cheer. 

​November 2022

Milwaukee Study Trip
A group of 21, including two alums, take part in Chaddick's fifth annual study trip to Milwaukee, WI to explore urban innovations.  This day trip via Amtrak's Hiawatha Service featured visits to nonprofit organization, a presentation by the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, a group dinner, and an evening stop at the Milwaukee Public Market.  Cities around the county have much to learn from this vibrant neighbor to our north.​

​​​October 2022

Global Learning Exchange
Chaddick holds a Global Learning Exchange session taking the form of a conversation between university students in Curitiba, Brazil, and DePaul graduate students. The session is hosted by Brandon Bordenkircher, a DePaul Alum, and Chaddick Research Fellow. The conversation focuses on e-government and tech-related innovation that can enhance citizen participation.

September 2022

The latest installment in our bi-annual review of Amazon’s cargo airline, Takeoff in Northern Kentucky: Big
 Moves at "CVG" Lift Amazon Air's Delivery Capabilities, is featured in a pair of Bloomberg articles, Loadstar, and numerous other outlets. The brief, co-written with graduate students Carrie Craig and Abby Mader, gains attention by providing previously unavailable information about Amazon’s rapid expansion at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.

 

 

 

Our Municipal Design Review Network begins its well-deserved 15th anniversary celebration! Activities began at a special session at the American Planning Association – Illinois conference that included remarks by John Spoden, Village of Libertyville; Consuelo Arguilles, City of Warrenville; and longtime Chaddick advisors John Hedrick and Dudley Underdonk. This was followed by the rollout of Creating Community: The Municipal Design Review Network, a printed booklet created with the assistance of Marisa Schulz and Mallory Livingston. Email mdrn@depaul.edu for a complimentary booklet or to join the listserv.

 

 

A three-hour Sunday walking tour led by Patrick Steffes, a Chaddick urban program advisor and fellow, attracts 32 attendees, making it our third consecutive sold-out weekend tour. This tour, covering an area we dubbed “River North – West”, began at the Merchandise Mart and covered the area along the North Branch of Chicago River.  Patrick conducted extensive research at various archives prior to the tour, allowing him to provide a great deal of insight into this rapidly changing area.  

 

August 2022

 

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Our team launches the Talking Transportation podcast, which features conversations between guest experts and Professor Joseph Schwieterman. Taking Transportation brings you up to date on fascinating aspects of air, bus, and train travel and other methods of moving people and goods. For our first episode, Public Transit’s Ridership Recovery, A Glass Half Full? Chris Kopp, HNTB, came to our study. The podcast has commanded 100+ listens in only a few days. To see our podcast page, click here. 

 

 

The latest installment of Chaddick’s Intercity Bus E-New newsletter, focusing on our fact-finding trip to
 Denver, hits the inboxes of 750 professionals on our listserv devoted to scheduled motorcoach travel. This edition outlines several remarkable activities in the Mile High City while also having a Talking Transportation podcast with Pierre Gourdain, CEO of FlixBus USA. To join our Intercity Bus Listserv (free) to receive our quarterly e-newsletter, email chaddick@depaul.edu.

 

July 2022

 

Chaddick releases a widely circulated bulletin on holiday transportation, Airport Blues:  The Potential Difficulties from Disrupted Fourth of July Travel, that receives widespread attention.  Our coverage included features on CB2 2 Chicago and NBC 5 Chicago television news, and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. The review the bulletin, click here.

 

 

 

MDRN's Summer walking tour at the Village of Downer's Grove

A group of 32 takes part in our Municipal Design Review summer walking tour hosted by the Village of Downers Grove, which features new downtown residential developments, innovative development guidelines, and zoning strategies that create buffer zones between the downtown district and residential homes. We thank Stanley Popovich, Director of Community Development, and his team for arranging such a dynamic and timely tour. The tour was followed by a great lunch at an outdoor venue in the heart of the village. Photo courtesy of the Village of Downers Grove.​

June 2022

 

Cityfront Center / River East Summer Walking Tour

 

Twenty six attended our special tour hosted by the Chaddick Institute and Forgotten Chicago of Cityfront Center / River East, the area along the north bank of the Main Branch of the Chicago River and east of Michigan Avenue. Our tour guide, Patrick Steffes, Editor, Forgotten Chicago, shared many fascinating insights. 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating the End of a Successful Academic Year  

 

Forty people attended our reception to mark the culmination of our programs during the 2021-22 academic year.  We offered our congratulations to our nine new Chaddick Scholars and introduced Professor William Kling as our new Project Director.  Professor Kling will lead several of our environmental and planning initiatives.

 

 

 

Lunch & Learn with Professor Lauren Fischer

 

Chaddick and DePaul’s Urban Collaborative welcomed Lauren Fischer back to the campus for a “lunch & learn” gathering. Lauren Fischer is a professor at the University of North Texas and formerly served as our associate director. Dr. Fischer discussed a sustainable infrastructure initiative that she leads in the Dallas-Ft. Worth region. An audience of twenty took part in the Q&A that followed. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Fischer as an Alumni Research Fellow at Chaddick through August 2022.

 

 

 

Summer Mixer at the Chicago Riverwalk

 

A dozen students and alums involved in Chaddick activities met at Chicago's famed Riverwalk for a mixer to celebrate summer.   We used the occasion to discuss the remarkable transformation of the Main Stem of the Chicago River since 2010.

 

 

 

 

Our Chaddick Scholars prepare for their presentations to an expert audience, an important step toward completing their requirements. The presentations showcase research conducted by graduate students in the School of Public Service or Sustainable Urban Development program. Completing the requirements for being a Chaddick Scholar usually lasts six months. Congrats to this year’s delegation, which is nearing the finish line!

 

May 2022

 

The Centers & Institute Committee of DePaul's College of Liberal Arts & Social Science, of which Chaddick is a member, recognized exemplary student contributors for the 2021-22 academic year at a brief ceremony.  The event drew attention to those who have gone "above and beyond" supporting the programs and research of the School's centers and institutes.   Congratulations to these remarkable students!  Click here for brief bios. 

 

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Our Institute is honored to begin a partnership with the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them.  Our work includes both policy analysis and public education to foster effective planning along Chicago's vast waterway system. National Great Rivers Research & Education Center, a division of Lewis and Clark Community College, is based in Alton, IL

 

 

 

 

Thirteen graduate students took part in the Chaddick Institute's Spring Study Trip to Chicago Union Station, the Old Post Office (for a meeting with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning), and the Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit in the Garfield Park neighborhood focused on local food entrepreneurship. This was the 26th installment of the Institute's popular bi-annual series of study trips.  Many of the attendees of this May event also took part in our autumn trip to Milwaukee.

 

 

April 2022

 

Six Chaddick Scholars, all DePaul students, travelled to Saint Louis, MO, for the 63rd Transportation Research Forum (TRF). Our contingent participated in TRF’s Graduate Student delegation, which was also comprised of students from several other universities. The DePaul group, led by Professor Schwieterman also made presentations during the poster session. All plan to attend the 64th Forum, to be held at the Chaddick Institute in April 2023.

 

 

 

An audience of 65 attended our webinar featuring Chad Scarborough, executive director of The Jet, a new first-class bus line linking New York and Washington, DC, and the authors of Routes to Recovery 2022: Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry. The latter presentation provided an opportunity to showcase the nine custom maps prepared by Chaddick program manager Abby Mader depicting major industry initiatives across the United States.

 

 

March 2022

Chaddick released its sixth independently produced brief on Amazon’s cargo airline. The brief, Total Package: Amazon Air's Changing Network and Strategic Orientation, was the focus of feature articles in the Wall Street Journal and Air Cargo News . The study team also presented their findings at the Transportation Research Forum conference in Saint Louis, MO in April 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

We hosted "Discussion over Drinks" with the Transportation Research Forum’s Chicago Chapter. The

event featured Michael Sussman, Strategic Rail Finance and OnTrackNorthAmerica; Jessica Hector-Hsu, Director of Planning and Market Development at the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois); and Brandon Bordenkircher, Twelve-Tone Consulting. Erik Cempel moderated this virtual program, which attracted 25 (shown counterclockwise from upper left).

 

February 2022

 

The Institute team released its 12th annual review of scheduled long-distance bus travel, a sector  widely covered by Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, FlixBus, Megabus, and other prominent brands. Our report, Routes to Recovery 2022: Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry, was covered in several national transportation publications, including BusRide, Mass Transit , and Metro.

 

 

 

 

January 2022

At the American Bus Association’s Marketplace Expo in Grapevine, TX, we unveiled the Intercity Bus

Bounceback The 4th Quarter 2021 Brings Optimism to a Struggling Sector. The report showcases dramatic swings in demand facing the industry as a result of a sharp recovery during autumn and downtown pressure on demand from the Omicron pandemic. Check out the article on the brief in Metro, entitled “Intercity Bus Lines Bounce Back in Autumn, Even as Omicron Looms".

 

Informal Mixer at "the TRB"

 

A group of twelve students and professionals attended our Transportation Research Forum mixer at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting in Washington, DC that was organized by the Chaddick team.  The DePaul delegation included Abby Mader, Borja González Morgado, and Sarah Hallock as well as Professor Schwieterman.   Our delegation also attended Professor Schwieterman's presentation on cargo airports before a TRB aviation subcommittee. 

 

 

 

December 2021

URBAN DESIGN AWARD PROGRAM WINNERS 

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Chaddick Institute's four annual Urban Design Award Program, a competition for first-year Sustainable Urban Development graduate students. Each student submitted a 3-D model using SketchUp and neighborhood maps prepared using Illustrator and GIS, for a vacant parcel. Their work illustrates the technical skills gains gained by students through the SUD program. We thank Marisa Schulz and Rachael Smith of All Together Studio for assisting in the program. 

• Christopher Sandine, Winner
• Ken Thomas, Runner Up
  
  

Chaddick “Blue Demons” Basketball Outing

The Chaddick team brought together students and alumni for DePaul’s Blue Demons vs Duquesne University basketball game. Students and alumni, including recent graduate Matthew Jacques, who helped organize the event, witnessed a convincing victory while bringing each other up-to-date on their courses and careers. The event included an informal tour of the Wintrust Arena led by Joe Schwieterman, highlighting the social and urban significance of both the arena and location.

Design Review Networking & Idea Exchange attracts 28 students and professional

This year’s Municipal Design Review Network “Idea Exchange”, which attracted 28 professionals and students, allowed attendees to share strategies and “best practices” related to emerging planning and design challenges. Hosted city planner, Andy Cross, AICP, City of Highland Park, it featured small-group discussions of current planning issues led by Ryan Franklin, AICP, Village of Schaumburg, Scott Mangum, AICP, Village of Lincolnwood, and Emily Egan, AICP, Village of Brookfield. Students and professionals found the lively Zoom discussions to be both interesting and insightful.

November 2021

"Neighborly Rivals" Conference attracts 85
Chaddick and DePaul Real Estate Center held their jointly sponsored annual conference, entitled Neighborly Rivals: How commercial and residential real estate activity is shifting between Chicago and the Suburbs. The symposium featured Michael Fassnacht, World Business Chicago; Lee Everett, Waterton; Rachael Smith, AICP, All Together; Derek Fohl, Midwest Capital Markets; and Bennett Webster, Paramount Lodging Advisors. The meeting was attended by 85 and continued our highly successful collaboration with our friends at the "REC".

October 2021

Transportation Research Forum - Autumn Professional "Mixer"
An audience of 28 attended our autumn "professional mixer", hosted by the Chicago Chapter of the Transportation Research Forum (TRF). Small group discussions were led by Libby Ogard, Prime Focus, who discussed congestion at the ports; David Tomzik, Pace Suburban Bus, who discussed transit planning; and our own Allison Woodward, graduate student, who discussed mobility in the West African country of Benin.

Sunday Tour of Illinois Center and Lake Shore East  
A hearty group of 24 braved inclement weather for a weekend walking tour of Illinois Center and Lake Shore East, including stops on all three levels of the area’s complex street network as well as the new St. Regis tower.   Our tour was led by Patrick Steffes, an editor of Forgotten Chicago and Chaddick Program Advisor.  The event culminated with a networking event at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.  

Autumn Study trip to Milwaukee
A group of 22 graduate students and alumni take part in a daylong trip via Amtrak's Hiawatha Service to this neighboring Wisconsin city. This urban-planning immersion included discussions with leaders of the Historic Third Ward, managers of a streetscape program at the City of Public Works, and senior officers of Revitalize Milwaukee. Our outing was Chaddick's 20th study trip! 

August 2021

Municipal Design Review Network "Walking Tour" in Highland Park

More than two dozen professionals travel to this attractive northern suburb for a technical walking tour hosted by City of Highland Park.  After some gathering and networking time at City Hall, planner Andy Cross commenced with a fascinating tour that featured highlights in downtown redevelopment, examples of design guidelines in effect, and zoning changes responding to current difficulties and challenges.  This is the 13^th summer walking tour hosted by “MDRN"

Chaddick crosses an Milestone in Annual Scholarship Awards

We are pleased to have awarded more than $50,000 in graduate student scholarships during the 2020-21 academic year, the most the Chaddick Institute has awarded in a single year since its inception.  Congratulations to the diverse group of 17 winners of Harry F. Chaddick and Chaddick Scholar scholarships.  We thank the School of Public Service and Liberal Arts & Social Science teams who help support our award programs. Photographs of our nine Chaddick Scholar appear in our June 2021 posting below.

June 2021

Future of Bus Travel Conference

Chaddick co-sponsors The Future of Bus is Digital Conference, hosted virtually by Reservmas-Sass and attended by more than 200. Professor Schwieterman is interviewed about themes in our 2021 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry report. The Conference offered simultaneous translation, a "first" for a Chaddick Sponsored event. 

Showcasing Chicago's Electric Vehicle Pilot

More than two dozen participants attend our summer transportation webinar, a timely interview with Roman Kuropas, CEO of Innova EV, the first company to launch an electric vehicle pilot in the City of Chicago. The pilot consisted of Innova EV's "Dash" cars, small two-seater autonomous vehicles, a partnership with ComEd, and seniors in Bronzeville. Brandon Bordenkircher also shared insights on his new co-authored working paper on autonomous vehicle regulation.  

Congrats to our Chaddick Scholars!

Congratulations to our 2021 Chaddick Scholars, who greatly helped our center achieve its goals during the 2020-21 academic year. This year's class consisted of Reed Capshaw, Hugo Coronado, Kimberly Fair, Sara Frankiewicz, Dylan Haber, Jennifer Hernandez, Mitch Hirst, Casey Lawler, and Valeria Tarka. The Scholars completed their final presentation in early June before an expert audience. Check out their bios here.

May 2021

 

Illinois Center and Lake Shore East: From Rail to Real Estate

We were joined online by 150 attendees for a special evening webinar by Patrick Steffes, Editor of Forgotten Chicago and Urban Program Advisor for the Chaddick Institute. Patrick shared a new presentation exploring this fascinating and ever changing part of downtown Chicago- which was once covered with railway tracks.  We learned about some of the surprising twists in the gradual transformation of this area since the 1920's.  This event was part of the ongoing collaboration with the Chaddick Institute and Forgotten Chicago.

 

Spring Study Trip for Graduate Students
We were joined by 15 attendees for our Virtual Spring Study Trip. Valerie Egon, of the Oregon Department

of Transportation and an SPS alum, joined us from Portland, Oregon in to discuss eco-friendly strategies for the Columbia River Gorge.  Andy Cross, City of Highland Park, provided resume building tips and insights about hot development topics in his community.

 

April 2021

Transportation Research Forum Spring Networking Event 
We were joined by 24 attendees for this virtual networking event. Attendees had the chance to chat with

our guest experts Marni Pyke, Daily Herald reporter; Lindsay Bayley, Senior Planner with CMAP; and Tammy Wierciak, Vice President of Metro Strategies.

 

 

 

2021 Transportation Research Forum Conference
The Chaddick Institute presented two studies at the 2021 Transportation Research Forum (TRF) Conference.  This widely anticipated event attracts research experts from around the world.  Graduate Students Jacob Walls, Borja Gonzalez, and Crystal Bell presented our research into the explosive growth of Amazon Air since spring of 2020.  Crystal Bell, Mitch Hirst, and Kimberly Fair presented our research into the changes in service in the intercity bus industry during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

March 2021

 

Policy Brief Showcases Growth of Cargo Airports 
A new Chaddick Policy Brief, "The Rise of Cargo Focused Hub Airports:  Pandemic Year 2020", by Joe Schwieterman and Euan Hague, draws attention to dramatic changes underway in retail commerce during the pandemic.  The brief shows that traffic at cargo focused airports grew more than 30% from 2019 to 2020.  The brief also garnered attention in Air Cargo News and Simple Flying.  To access the Brief, click here.

 

 

Expanding Amtrak's Chicago - Twin Cities Service: New Insights and Updates 
A national audience of 103 attended our Transportation Research Forum webinar exploring plans for an additional train on the Chicago - Milwaukee - Twin Cities corridor. Amtrak's Richard Rogers, Business Planning and Analysis Manager and Derrick James, Senior Manager, Government Affairs, State and Local Legislative Relations, provided the latest news on the inter-governmental collaborations that are creating momentum. Frank Douma, Director of State and Local Policy Program, Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and Erik Cempel, President, Cempel International Transportation Consulting served as moderators.

 

February 2021

Primed and Positioned: Strategic Moves by Amazon Air Winter 2021
Our most recent study of Amazon Air's evolution, released February 16, 2020, analyzes the carriers recent

domestic and international growth.   We thank our graduate student study co-authors Jacob Walls, Borja Gonzalez Morgado, and Crystal Bell for assisting in this data intensive effort that fills a gap in understanding e-commerce trends.  Our analysis has garnered national attention including coverage from CNBC, Air Cargo News, and Freightwaves.

 

January 2021

On the Brink: 2021 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States Webinar

The Chaddick Institute released On the Brink: 2021 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United Stateson January 29, 2021.  This is the latest installment of its widely anticipated annual review of this vital transportation sector. The study received national attention with coverage in Mass Transit, BusRide, and Metro.   An audience of 70 attended our February 19, 2021 webinar featuring co-authors Brian Antolin, Joe Schwieterman, and Crystal Bell.  David Hall, Managing Partner of FleetMotum served as moderator.

The Chaddick Institute offers a heartfelt tribute to Laurie B. Marston, FIACP, who is retiring after

more than 20 years as our Technical Advisor. Laurie has astutely led our Plan Commission Training program with the American Planning Association over the past decade while also playing an active role planning our workshops and professional events, including the Municipal Design Review Network. Check out our lighthearted five minute video, prepared in cooperation with the All Together Studio, with reflections from those who have worked with Laurie. 

 

Chaddick Institute/DePaul Real Estate Center Annual Symposium
We were joined by 145 participants for our virtual event. This year we explored how a pandemic driven transformation of employment and commuting patterns could change Chicago's real estate market. Our presenters included Steve Brown, Project Leader, HNTB; Chris Kopp, Transportation Practice Leader, HNTB; Linda Goodman, Principal, Goodman Williams Group; and Debra Moritz, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield.  Joe Schwieterman, Director of the Chaddick Institute and Charlie Wurtzebach, Douglas & Cynthia Crocker Endowed Director of the Real Estate Center served as facilitators for our program.

December 2020

December Lunch & Learn Webinar

We were joined by 19 attendees for an informative analysis of the effects of COVID-19 in Chicago

neighborhoods. Graduate students presented case studies that were conducted in part using the DePaul COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Cole Neder and Jacob Walls, School of Public Service, presented the Wrigleyville Case Study.  Preeya Waite and Iqra Hashwani, Master of Public Health Program, presented the Gage Park Case Study.  The event was jointly sponsored by the Chaddick Institute, School of Public Service, and Center for Community Health Equity. 

Chaddick Institute Holiday Reception
44 attendees joined us for our first ever virtual holiday reception. We enjoyed some holiday merriment and took a brief look back at some of the Chaddick activities and happenings of the autumn term.  Brandon Bordenkircher received the inaugural Chaddick Institute Distinguished Alumni Award for his extensive service to the institute's student programs, publications, and professional activities.  We also celebrated the career of Laurie Marston, AICP, our talented Technical Advisor, who is retiring in January 2021.

November 2020

Virtual Walking Tour of Villa Park

Chaddick Institute's Metropolitan Design Review Network was joined by 46 participants for a Virtual Walking Tour hosted by the Village of Villa Park. Consuelo Arguilles, Community Development Director, and other staff at the Village took us on a fast-paced tour featuring notable design projects, multi-use trails, and COVID-19 pandemic adaptations throughout the village.

Graduate Student Research Presentation Lunch & Learn Webinar

We were joined by 27 participants for a lunch time webinar featuring graduate student research. Attendees had the opportunity to attend break-out sessions featuring presentations from School of Public Service graduate students Santa Torrijo, Maureen McClellan, and Mandaline Dunne.

October 2020

Chaddick attracted its largest audience ever for a transportation webinar!  An audience of
124 people learned about notable initiatives that reclaimed long abandoned or out-of-service railroad lines for passenger service. Joanne Parker and Matt Stevens of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District in San Rafael, CA outlined how an out-of-service ex-Southern Pacific route was restored for a commuter-rail service in northern California.  Institute director Joe Schwieterman reviewed other prominent examples involving Lakewood, CO; Santa Monica, CA, Corinth, TX; and Scituate, MA.  Click here to see our Back on Track working paper.  Click here for the webinar video, which was co-sponsored with Forgotten Chicago (68 minutes).

We were joined by a diverse audience of 70 from across the country for this exciting evening event cosponsored with TRF Chicago and FleetMotum.  We explored issues and opportunities facing transit agencies throughout the United States with respect to their bus operations using an innovate Q&A-focused format.  Our panel of industry experts included: Adelee Le Grand, Transdev North America; Dan Hibbert, Montgomery County Maryland Department of Transportation; Naomi Klein, Westchester County Department of Planning; Ryan Ruehle, Pace Suburban Bus; and Steven Brown, HNTB.  Brian Antolin and David Hall of FleetMotum served as discussants. Click here to view this webinar.

September 2020

Reclaiming Abandoned Rail Lines for Freight and Excursion Service 

Identifying and Mitigating COVID-19 Racial and Income Disparities in Chicago
An impressive group of 63 attendees joined us for a timely lunch and learn webinar to discuss COVID-19 testing disparities in Chicago’s neighborhoods. The event was co-hosted with the Center for Community Health Equity, DePaul University; and Geographic Society of Chicago. Our panel encompassed: Fernando De Maio, PhD, American Medical Association; C. Scott Smith, PhD AICP, our assistant director; and Raj Shah, MD Geriatrician, Department of Family Medicine at Rush Medical College.

August 2020

Amazon Air’s Summer Surge Policy Brief Released
Chaddick Institute completed work on its "Amazon Air's Summer Surge" policy brief. The brief received widespread attention from aviation analysts and media outlets, including Freightwaves and CNBC.  The brief's co-authors were Joe Schwieterman, Chaddick Institute director; Jacob Walls and Borja Gonzales, both graduate research associates.  Check out the report's cartography and Amazon warehouse location analysis prepared with support from Crystal Bell and Jessica Kupets.  Click here to view our brief.

JULY 2020

MUNICIPAL DESIGN REVIEW NETWORKING & IDEA SHARING EVENT 

The Municipal Design Review Network hosted an interactive online networking event for municipal planners and design professionals. The event's fun and focused discussions included small, facilitated breakout rooms that offered opportunities to share strategies for addressing existing and emerging planning and design challenges. Over 30 planners engaged in insightful conversation on the design of indoor and outdoor spaces, public meeting venues and virtual software/plan review options. Thanks to Emily A. Egan, AICP, Assistant City Planner, City of Elmhurst; Scott A. Mangum, AICP, Planning and Zoning Manger, City of Evanston; Tom Farace, AICP, Planning & Economic Development Manager, Village of Carol Stream for leading small group discussions. 

URBAN DESIGN AWARD PROGRAM WINNERS
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Chaddick Institute's third annual Urban Design Award Program, a competition for first-year Sustainable Urban Development graduate students. Each student submitted a 3-D model using Sketchup and neighborhood maps prepared using Illustrator and GIS, for a vacant parcel at 2431 W. Fullerton Ave – Logan Square, Chicago. Their work illustrates the technical skills gains gained by students through the SUD program.

• Johanna Tuthill, Winner, Best Model Activation. To see submission, click here
• Borja Morgado, Winner, Best Poster Design. To see submission, click here
• Casey Lawler, Runner Up, Best Model Application. To see submission, click here
• Delaney Klundt, Certificate of Excellence Award
• Hugo Coronado, Certificate of Excellence Award

JUNE 2020

NATIONAL WEBINAR FEATURING NEW RESEARCH: INSIGHTS INTO AMAZON AIR: 2020'S TRANSPORTATION JUGGERNAUT 

An audience of 66 took part in a special mid-day webinar featuring David Vernon, Bernstein Research in New York, and the DePaul University's research time in the Windy City. The event explored Amazon Air's dramatic growth in recent months and the changing orientation of its flight network. These topics were featured in a Chaddick Institute policy brief available for download here. 

The School of Public Service, Center for Community Health Equity and the Chaddick Institute hosted a joint program on emerging issues faced by Illinois residents due to the pandemic. DePaul Professor Scott Smith and students Josean Amill, Gulden Mukhamejanova and Jordan May, along with School of Public Service alum Brandon Bordenkircher, presented their research and analyses of COVID-19 trends and related social vulnerability assessments of communities in Illinois. Their work evaluates changing 'riskscapes' across Illinois and why integrating public health into urban planning can foster greater resilience.

MAY 2020

A NATIONAL AUDIENCE "HOPS ONBOARD" OUR WEBINAR ON FRANCE AND THE PANAMA CANAL

An audience of 40 attended the Chaddick Institute's special webinar for the national Transportation Research Forum featuring cutting edge research  had been schedule to be presented at the 61st Transportation Forum in New Jersey but was cancelled due to coronavirus. The webinar featured analysis of e-scooters, the Panama Canal, logistics in France and other topics with broad policy implications for both domestic and international transportation. Click here for the presentations. 

APRIL 2020 

SPECIAL WEBINAR: PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESS IN CHICAGO, FEATURING RESEARCH BY 5 CHADDICK SCHOLARS

An audience of 40 graduate students and professionals joined us for an hour-long webinar to learn about cutting edge research scheduled to be presented by Chaddick Scholars at the 61st Transportation Research Forum in New Jersey but was canceled due to coronavirus. The webinar featured two presentations prepared by five Chaddick scholars in DePaul's SPS and SUD programs on the following research topics: 

• Equity and Transit-Oriented Development in Chicago: Examining Gentrification and Housing Affordability, by Kevin Snyder and Santa Torrijo
• A Visual Representation of Rail Transit Users in the U.S. Cities, by Kyle Acevedo, Alex Asta, and Isabella Downes

WEBINAR & STUDY: PUBLIC TRANSIT/RIDESHARE PARTNERSHIPS: 21 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PROGRAMS IN THE U.S. 

Wewant to thank the 90+ urban professionals from across the country who were able to tune in for our webinar, co-hosted with the Transportation Research Forum Chicago Chapter, covering best practices, evolving practices, and opportunities for agencies to maximize the mobility benefits using public transit/rideshare partnerships. We heard first-hand how planners are refining their programs and evaluating their performance to overcome hurdles in different types of partnerships. Webinar slides can be accessed here.  This webinar also marks the release of the Chaddick Institute’s new study: “21 Key Takeaways from Partnerships between Public Transit Providers & Transportation Network Companies in the United States”, available April 14, 2020. Click here to download the study.  Congratulations for Mallory Livingston, who is the lead author of this new publication.

MARCH 2020

RESPONSES OF AIR, BUS AND RAIL LINES AND SHARED MOBILITY TO COVID-19

The Chaddick Institute and Transportation Research Forum Chicago Chapter held a timely webinar on the transportation sectors' responses to COVID-19. Joseph Schwieterman discussed responses from major airlines as well as the smaller and ultra-discount companies. Brian Antolin and Erik Cempel highlighted policies adopted by Amtrak and inter-city bus operators while Chris Kopp summarized recent actions taken by public transit agencies within Chicago to stem transmission while continuing service. Lastly, Scott Smith outlined approaches taken by private shared mobility companies including Uber, Lyft, Turo and Lime to address the intensifying challenges posed by coronavirus. Click here for the slides and 5-page matrix.  

 

WEBINAR ON URBAN FLOODING

The Chaddick Institute concluded their Illinois Municipal Policy webinar series with a discussion on urban flooding and its effects on low-income neighborhoods. C. Scott Smith from DePaul University's Chaddick Institute and Kyle Smith of Metropolitan Mayors Caucus focused on how inclusionary zoning and accessory dwelling unit-related ordinances are helping to increase the supply of affordable housing in municipalities with varying sociodemographic characteristics. Click hereto learn more. Marcella Bondie Kennan of RainReady Home for the Center for Neighborhood Technology discussed her researchon how resident assistance programs, open data portals, and building inspection strategies adopted by municipalities are alleviating urban flooding in the Chicago area. 

 

WEBINAR AND NEW STUDY ON CHICAGO'S 2019 E-SCOOTER PILOT PROGRAM 

Chaddick Institute’s assistant director, C. Scott Smith, hosted a brief webinar summarizing the results of his recently released study on how e-scooter sharing altered the mobility landscape for Chicagoans during last year’s pilot program. 30 attendees from around the county took part in this session. He highlighted some of the important findings in his study, including the extent to which e-scooters in Chicago’s pilot zone offered time-saving and convenience benefits using real-time data. His analysis builds on the Institute’s “Day in the Life” study. Click here for the slides.

 

FEBRUARY 2020

SPS AND SUD BASKETBALL OUTING 

DePaul graduate students joined the Chaddick Institute cheer on the DePaul men's basketball team as they took on Georgetown at Wintrust Arena.  The group was treated to an exciting victory.

WEBINAR ON LEAD PIPELINES AND STATE PREEMPTION 

The Chaddick Institute hosted two February webinars as part of the Illinois Municipal Policy webinar series and had an audience of over 50 people from across the state. Caroline Pakenham and Roya Alkafaji from Elevate Energy, and Nora Beamish-Lannon and Stephen Beavis of DePaul University discussed their recent articlepublished in the journal regarding lead service line replacement. Nestor M. Davidson from Fordham University School of Law and Carlos Arevalo at Smith Amundsen, examined how state preemptive policies affect municipal policy, including home rule and marijuana legalization. To learn more about this timely topic, click here.  

 

 

URBAN CLUSTER LUNCH & LEARN: MOVEMENT ACROSS BORDERS UNDER BREXIT
We had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Sarah Jane Fox, our Chaddick Institute visiting scholar from the University of East London in United Kingdom, for a special lunch & learn event “Movement Across Borders: Freedom, Safety, Security…and BREXIT!" Dr. Fox offered a case-study perspective on the European Union the U.K., in addition to the security challenges related to “Megxit and the Sussexes". The room was packed with twenty-five plus faculty, students, and visiting DePaul alumni. 

SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT OF OUR 2020 OUTLOOK FOR THE INTERCITY BUS INDUSTRY

Professor Joseph Schwieterman and Brian Antolin at CoTo Travel latest installment of the Chaddick Institute's Outlook for intercity bus travel garnered a great deal of attention, including this article in Mass Transit magazine. We also hosted a webinar depicting the industry at an important milestone, now having – for the first time in its history – three carriers with truly national networks. The webinar also explored the surge of immigrant riders on Greyhound, described by recent DePaul graduate Sofia del Palacio Ugarte. The Outlook report is available for free download here. To learn more about upcoming webinars and to be added to our webinar listserv, email chaddick@depaul.edu.

JANUARY 2020

CHADDICK SCHOLARS CHINATOWN DINNER
The incoming class of Chaddick Scholars met with Professors Joe and Scott for a kickoff dinner in Chinatown's Triple Crown Restaurant. The ten newest Scholars represent the various degree programs in the School of Public Service and Sustainable Urban Development program. It was a great opportunity to learn about one another's research interests, and we're looking forward to a great year ahead! 

WEBINAR ON HELPING TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AMID DECLINING POPULATION This webinar, featuring research in the latest issue of the Illinois Municipal Policy Journal, attached more than four dozen professionals. To access the webinar slides, please click here.

DECEMBER 2019

"EARTH, WIND & FIRE SYMPOSIUM" ON CLIMATE CHANGE WITH DEPAUL'S REAL ESTATE CENTER  

More than sixty professionals and graduate students attended our annual symposium with the DePaul Real Estate Center - a tradition that has been continuing for more than 15 years. This year's event, entitled Earth, Wind & Fire: Extreme Weather in Planning and Development, featured an expert panel comprised of Mary Ludgin, Sr. Managing Director - Head of Global Research, Heitman; Lisa Dickson, Associate Principal & Director for the Americas, ARUP; Josh Ellis, Vice President, Metropolitan Planning Council; and Michael Berkshire, Green Projects Administrator, City of Chicago.

 

TRANSPORTATION ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Members of the Transportation Research Forum joined us for a lively roundtable discussion with Mark Walbrun, Senior Consultant – Rail & Transit, at Quandel Consulting, on cutting-edge technologies now in use or soon to be deployed on rail systems. Mark covered a variety of transportation technologies, including autonomous trains and battery-powered transit services. Erik Cempel moderated the event. 

 

ANNUAL HOLIDAY RECEPTION CELEBRATION 

We reflected on another successful year of research and events with new and old friends at our annual holiday reception on December 19. Professor Joe Schwieterman gave brief remarks to the group about the team's milestones in 2019, including moving into the new Chaddick space to completing the fourth installment of the Illinois Municipal Policy Journal. He also presented six first-year Sustainable Urban Design graduate students with awards for their 3-D model and neighborhood map submissions for the Chaddick Institute's inaugural Urban Design Award Program. 

 

• Sweta Amatya, Winner. To see submission, click here.
• Scott Dobson, Runner-Up. To see submission, click here. 
• Kyle Acevedo, Certificate of Excellence.
• Alex Asta, Certificate of Excellence.
• Isabella Downes, Certificate of Excellence.
  
  

NOVEMBER 2019

 

MDRN NETWORKING AND IDEA EXCHANGE 

Chaddick's Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN) held its annual fall idea sharing and brainstorming event. More than two dozen municipal planners from around the region traveled to DePaul's Loop Campus to discuss strategies for addressing emerging planning and design problems, including the design implications of present, pending and potential casino, cannabis and vaping rules. Roundtable discussions focused on digital sign codes and designing for climate adaptation.   

 

NEW STUDY ON PARKING APPS
The institute released a widely circulated study, Driving Toward Efficiency, that explores the role of parking booking intermediaries such as Parking Panda, ParkWhiz and Spothero. This study was commissioned by SpotHero to allow for a rigorous statistical assessment of the changing parking ecosystem.  Click here for our blog post. 

MILWAUKEE STUDY TRIP

A delegation of 20 took part in the Chaddick Institute's 18th bi-annual study trip. This day trip to Milwaukee included roundtrip travel on Amtrak and visits to the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Building, Fondy Farmers Market, and Westlawn Gardens. We thank all our graduate students and professional advisors who took part in this brisk Autumn trip, which was organized by Assistant Director C. Scott Smith. 

OCTOBER 2019

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH FORUM LUNCH & LEARN ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IN NY, NY

Adam Lomasney, Assistant Vice President of the
New York Economic Development Corporation (NYEDC) presented to a group of DePaul students and industry professionals on contemporary transportation issues in New York, including: a look at the enormous difficulty of moving freight through the city; strides toward congestion pricing in Lower Manhattan; electrification of freight movements; and the new NYC Ferry system that connects waterfront communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Thanks to Chaddick Senior Research Advisor Chris Kopp of HNTB for moderating this lively discussion. 

SEPTEMBER 2019

CHADDICK SUPPORTS MEGAREGION CHICAGO

Six graduate students served as volunteers and 

Chaddick director Joe Schwieterman spoke at this Chicago "Think Tank" event that explored the future of Chicago Megaregion. Joe reviewed the evolution of air, bus and rail service in our region, including some of the new developments at Chicago Union Station, O'Hare International Airport, and downstate. We thank Matt Jacques for coordinating our volunteer delegation, which helped facilitate activities at this widely attended event, which was part of the Chicago Architectural Biennial.

 

AUGUST 2019

WEBINAR: TWO ANALYSES OF SHARED MOBILITY IN CHICAGO 
Over 35 tuned in for our late summer webinar on shared mobility in Chicago. First, Chaddick's C. Scott Smith presented findings from the new study he co-authored,  "A Day in the Life of Chicago's E-Scooter Pilot Program," which includes a sophisticated analysis of real-time data (made available via operator-specific API feeds) to explore how and where people are scooting. Next, Elizabeth Irvin, Transportation Director, Center for Neighborhood Technology, shared her fascinating new analysis illustrating ways that shared rides and pricing policy affect the affordability of using Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft in Chicago. She will draw upon official data provided by ridesharing providers (TNCs) to the City of Chicago. Chaddick Senior Research Advisor Chris Kopp, Transportation Practice Planning Leader, HNTB, served as discussant.

JULY 2019

TRF-CHICAGO INSIDE LOOK AT CHICAGO UNION STATION

Members of the Transportation Research Forum were treated to an inside look at Chicago Union Station led by Len Koroski of Goettsch Partners, Inc. Koroski led the restoration work in the station's magnificent Great Hall. The group also got to hear from Erik Cempel, Amtrak's Infrastructure Planning Manager for Chicago Union Station. Over 20 were in attendance for this behind the scene tour that included stops in the Metropolitan Lounge, the Burlington Room, and the Great Hall.

MDRN SUMMER WALKING TOUR TO GLENCOE

We were pleased to have a highly successful and fascinating walking tour of the Village of Glencoe. Despite heavy rain, over 30 local professionals turned out for a timely presentation on how design cultivates the community. MDRN Founder John Hedrick delivered opening remarks before turning the floor over to the organization and Glencoe's very own Dudley Onderdonk who took attendees through the fascinating history of this North Shore community. Central to the theme of the day, longtime Plan Commissioner Caren Thomas and 20 year Village Planner, Lee Brown offered insights on the unique process Glencoe utilizes to maintain design standards that the community desires, including its broad and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Later, attendees traveled back in time with Peter Van Vechten of the Historical Society, who gave a sweeping presentation at the Village Library from Glencoe's earliest days to the present. Jon Faris, Executive Director of Writers Theatre offered a behind-the-scene tour and discussed the process of the Theatre's new LEED Gold certified Jeanne Gang-designed home.

MAY 2019

GRADUATE STUDY TRIP TO GARY, GRADUATE STUDY TRIP TO GARY, INDIANA

Last Friday, May 10, Professors Schwieterman and Smith led a study trip to Gary, Indiana for SPS and SUD graduate students. SUD student and Chaddick Scholar, and former AmeriCorps Vista in Gary, Conner Rettig, helped arrange a visit with many of the city's department heads at the forefront of the Gary comeback story. Students also had the opportunity to hear directly from current Vistas working hard on the street front the Gary comeback story. Students also had the opportunity to hear directly from current Vistas working hard on street front improvements. The group also spent time in Miller, the bustling neighborhood challenging Chicago residents to "rethink Gary" with its shoreline dunes and burgeoning arts district. Of course, the trip would not be complete without a focus on transportation, as Joe offered en route insights aboard the famous South Shore Line, one of the country's last interurban railways.

TRANSPORTATION CAMP 2019
On Saturday, May 4, the Chaddick Institute hosted Transportation Camp 2019 in the newly dedicated Chaddick Hall. The forum focused on transit and transportation topics, including a guest appearance by the Institute's director, Professor Schwieterman.

MEASURING MOBILITY BENEFITS OF NEW "SHARED MOBILITY" OPTIONS

Professors Schwieterman and Smith and 4 Chaddick scholars traveled to Washington DC to attend the Transportation Research Forum's annual conference at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. The special session included panels that explored the degree to which "shared mobility" modes are enhancing mobility. Remarks were given by Professor Smith, Dana Yanocha (former Chaddick Scholar), and many other transportation experts.

APRIL 2019

NEW LOOK, BIGGER SPACE, SAME MISSION!

Over the past few weeks, the Chaddick Institute moved into a brand new space at DePaul, which includes Chaddick Hall (an attractively decorated lecture room capable of seating 90), a reception area with hardwood flooring, and several offices. We now have greater visibility – and elbow room! – as we continue to serve our mission of promoting effective planning, transportation and community development. Better yet, our entire team is now situated within DePaul’s new “Urban Studies Cluster”. Check out our recent ribbon-cutting event with Mayor Emanuel, and be sure to stop in for a personal tour if you are near 14 E. Jackson, Suite 1600, our new address.

RECOGNIZING JOHN HEDRICK, JD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL DESIGN STRATEGIES

John R. Hedrick, JD, who received a Chaddick Institute Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding leadership of research, programming, and advocacy in the area of effective municipal design. Well deserved John! The award was bestowed at our Grand Opening celebration. Check out some of the recent publications and events for our Municipal Design Review Network, all a testimony to John’s insights and dedication. When he is not helping Chaddick, John lends his talents to improving the downtown district in Glenview, Illinois.

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR CHICAGO AVIATION

What better way to dedicate the new Chaddick Hall than to welcome two “Blue Demon” legends who are making enormous contributions to transportation. Jamie Rhee, the City of Chicago’s Commissioner of Aviation, and Rosemarie Andolino, Chairman & CEO of Manchester Airline Group USA and past aviation commissioner, recently treated a packed Chaddick Hall to an evening discussing trends in aviation. Ms. Rhee and Ms. Andolino, both DePaul alums, offered insights on O’Hare and other global airports. We are extremely grateful for the many sponsors who made this event possible, including Ricondo (Presenting Sponsor) and United Airlines and O’Hare Interface Partners (both Gold Level Sponsors).

MARCH 2019

CREATING LOCAL CHARACTER: TOOLS TO FIND AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY DESIGN
Chaddick's MDRN hosted its fourth collaboration with the American Planning Association-Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS) on March 14 for a session focused on discussions about community design. This session was intended to give planners ideas and tools to engage stakeholders, including residents, boards, commissioners, and policymakers, in conversations about design. Participants discussed how establishing a shared language and vision for the character of a corridor, a downtown, or a streetscape can result in community pride, political support, and a stronger end product. Speakers included Lesley Roth, AIA, AICP Associate Principal and Director of Urban Planning at Ratio Design, and Scott Freres, PLA, ASLA President and co-founder of The Lakota Group.

THE PLACE NATIVE AMERICANS CALLED CHICAGOUA

On March 7, The Chaddick Institute together with the Windy City Historians hosted a special event about the early history of the land that Native Americans called "Chicagoua" and the story of Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet as they set out to find it. Guests heard about how historian John Swenson dug into original French documents and early maps to leverage his strong understanding of indigenous cultures in order to identify a second “Chicagoua” portage and ancient Indian mound – in suburban Olympia Fields.

WALKING, BIKING AND TAKING THE BUS: STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CAR DEPENDENCE IN FOUR DOWNSTATE CITIES
On March 6, The Chaddick Institute hosted a Lunch & Learn highlighting the work of four downstate Illinois communities that are doing exemplary work promoting alternatives to private automobile travel. Guest experts shared visuals and discussed the successful strategies of Charleston and Urbana to promote bicycle travel, Rock Island to create pleasant walking environments, and Peoria's work to promote transit use. Representatives of these four communities were formally recognized for their efforts. The symposium offered highlights from "Promoting Alternatives to Private Vehicle Travel in Illinois: Five Case Studies of Excellence", published in the latest volume of the Illinois Municipal Policy Journal. Check out this fascinating article!

FEBRUARY 2019

CHADDICK PUBLISHES 2019 INTERCITY BUS REPORT

On February 5, Chaddick released New Directions: 2019 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States, the latest edition in the annual bus report series. Notable findings from this year's research include the expansion of e-ticketing, an increase in public-private partnerships at the state level, and the widespread roll-out of premium bus offerings on heavily traveled corridors throughout the country. Dozens tuned in for the research team's webinar on the new report, including a handful of regularly scheduled operators from across America. Be sure to check out the interactive map of premium bus services!

DEPAUL MEN'S BASKETBALL OUTING
Over a dozen SPS & SUD students joined the Chaddick team for an afternoon at DePaul's brand new Wintrust Arena in the South Loop. Students had the chance to trade notes on their ongoing research and Professor Joe gave the group a little history lesson of the facility and the process that led to the state-of-the-art new home of DePaul basketball. Plus, the Blue Demons beat Providence!

INAUGURAL URBAN PROGRAMS LUNCH & LEARN
Professor William Sampson, Professor, and chair of the Public Policy department delivered the first presentation for the newly-created Urban Programs in the soon-to-be-unveiled new Chaddick Hall (formerly the Dublin Room). Professor Sampson discussed the research findings for his in-progress forthcoming book, which will be the largest study to date on the subject of student discipline in charter and regular schools.

CHADDICK SCHOLARS SOUTHSIDE OUTING
The Chaddick Scholars braved the cold for an outing to Bronzeville, the Hyde Park Arts Center, and capped off the day with a dinner at the South Shore Cultural Center.

JANUARY 2019

IMPJ VOL. 3 WEBINAR SERIES KICKOFF

Chaddick kicked off its webinar series for the third installment of the Illinois Municipal Policy Journal with a presentation entitled "Innovative Municipal Strategies to Promote Economic Development." The second webinar in the series took place on February 5, with a presentation from co-authors Alice Davis and Wes LeBlanc that focused on the life, work, and home buying preferences of Millennials and the implications for Chicago's suburbs.

CHADDICK SCHOLARS CHINATOWN DINNER

Before the end of the year, the incoming class of Chaddick Scholars met with Professor Joe for a meal in Chinatown. The ten newest Scholars represent the various degree programs in the School of Public Service as well as the Sustainable Urban Development program. It was a great opportunity to learn about one another's research interests, and we're looking forward to a great year ahead!

DECEMBER 2018

ANNUAL CONFERENCE CO-SPONSORED WITH THE REAL ESTATE CENTER
Once again, Chaddick and the Real Estate Center of the Driehaus College of Business held their annual conference on Friday, December 7. This year's timely topic, "The Return of the Megadevelopment", featured presentations from George Kisiel of Okrent Kisiel Associates, Inc. as well as Alice Davis and Wes LeBlanc of Gensler. Alderman Brendan Reilly offered remarks on the process of development in the Chicago downtown area.

CHADDICK SCHOLARS CHINATOWN DINNER
Before the end of the year, the incoming class of Chaddick Scholars met with Professor Joe for a meal in Chinatown. The ten newest Scholars represent the various degree programs in the School of Public Service as well as the Sustainable Urban Development program. It was a great opportunity to learn about one another's research interests, and we're looking forward to a great year ahead!

NOVEMBER 2018

TRF-CHICAGO URBAN TRANSPORTATION "LUNCH & LEARN"
Chaddick and TRF-Chicago held a midday "Lunch & Learn" session that featured a two-part program. First off, Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council discussed the organization's new Transit Means Business study. Next, Mark Pitstick and Kevin Stanciel of RTA gave an update on the inter-agency signage improvements across CTA, Pace, and Metra.

MDRN FALL NETWORKING & IDEA SHARING EVENT
Chaddick's Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN) held its annual fall idea-sharing and brainstorming event. More than two dozen municipal planners from around the region braved the snow to discuss a range of themes including lighting technology, small wireless facilities (SWF), and building materials.

TRF-CHICAGO MEMBERS-ONLY AFTER-WORK RECEPTION
Chaddick and TRF-Chicago held a special after-work gathering with Beth McCluskey, Director of the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation at the Illinois Department of Transportation at Pazos 311 on South Wacker. Ms. McCluskey led an informal discussion that highlighted her experiences leading different state-wide transportation projects.

SEPTEMBER 2018

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION OUTING

Wind and rain didn't stop nearly 20 DePaul students and School of Public Service alumni from strolling around downtown Chicago to discuss the city's investments in active transportation. SUD alum and professional transportation consultant Riley O'Neil led participants on a guided walk along Wabash, Randolph, and Dearborn streets which highlighted the transformative design, historical development, and performance of bike lanes, Divvy bikes, protected intersections, and other infrastructure that promote walking and bicycling in the Loop.

AUGUST 2018

TRF WEBINAR: PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES
Over 70 transportation experts and urban planners joined us for a webinar on Tuesday, August 28th hosted by the Transportation Research Forum. This webinar featured discussants from the Greater Dayton RTA, Pierce Transit, HNTB, the Shared Use Mobility Center, and the Chaddick Institute, each sharing insights into how cities and transit agencies are engaging in innovative partnerships with TNCs like Uber and Lyft. The presentation slides are available here.

"PARTNERS IN TRANSIT" STUDY RELEASED

Our latest study, Partners in Transit: A Review of Partnerships between Transportation Network Companies and Public Agencies in the United States, explores innovations underway a cities and transit agencies across the county to build synergy between Lyft & Uber and transit systems. Thank you to CityLab for featuring the study in their recent article, found here.

JULY 2018

URBAN DESIGN AWARD PROGRAM: STUDENT WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to the winners of the Chaddick Institute's inaugural Urban Design Award Program, a competition for first-year Sustainable Urban Development graduate students at DePaul University. Each student submitted a 3-D model and neighborhood maps for a vacant parcel on North Milwaukee Ave. Their work illustrates the technical skills gained by students through the Sustainable Urban Development program.

• Eleanore Byrne, Winner. To see submission, click here.
• Jack Carso, Runner-up. To see submission, click here.

JUNE 2018

TRF-CHICAGO NETWORKING RECEPTION WITH JOE SZABO, CMAP
Many thanks to Joseph Szabo, Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, for this great event. Nearly 30 TRF members - including transportation professionals and students throughout Chicago - enjoyed relaxed discussion and Q&A with Mr. Szabo, and learned about what has shaped his views on transportation issues.

CHADDICK END OF SCHOOL YEAR CELEBRATION
We are so grateful for all of the Chaddick friends who stopped by to help us celebrate another great year at Chaddick. We were able to recognize some of the Institute's work through the 2017-2018 academic year, as well as honor some of our outstanding leaders and students. What a wonderful year!

MAY 2018

CHADDICK ROUNDTABLE: CHICAGO BICYCLE POLICIES & TRENDS

Twenty-four active transportation professionals and advocates met to exchange ideas aimed at improving opportunities for bicycling throughout the city. The diverse group engaged in lively policy discussions concerning the city's recent dockless bike-share vendor requirements, and strategies to promote equitable mobility. Thanks especially to Divvy Program Director Amanda Woodall, CMAP Senior Planner John O'Neal, Active Transportation Alliance's Jim Merrill, and DePaul student Stijn Van der Slot for guiding the group through some difficult bicycle planning and policy terrain. Chaddick looks forward to following up on ideas shared at this roundtable at future events.

CHADDICK 2018 SPRING STUDY TRIP: AURORA, ILLINOIS

For its 16th study trip, the Chaddick Institute ventured out to the western reaches of the Chicago Metro area to visit the City of Aurora, the second-largest city in Illinois. Our group of 19 delegates was treated to a casual and highly informative guided walking tour of the downtown by City of Aurora staff, including Chief Innovation Office Adrienne M. Holloway, Downtown Development Coordinator Don Hughes, and City Planner Alex Minnela. The City's commuter rail connections, riverfront revitalization, urban residential, and adaptive reuse projects were among many highlights on the tour, which concluded with a group dinner at the City's historic and beautifully-renovated roundhouse building.

INSIGHTS ON O'HARE EXPANSION PLAN WITH CHICAGO AVIATION COMMISSIONER, GINGER EVANS

Chaddick - together with the Transportation Research Forum, Chicago Chapter - was pleased to host Chicago's Aviation Commissioner, Ginger Evans, as she shared insights about the recently-approved "O'Hare 21" capital improvement project at O'Hare International Airport. Before a sold-out audience of engineers and transportation professionals, Commissioner Evans discussed the scope of the project, as well as strategies being employed to bring it to timely completion. The presentation was followed by an active Q&A session and a networking reception sponsored by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Thank you to everyone who attended this informative event!

APRIL 2018

LUNCH LECTURE: ELECTRIC DEREGULATION AND ITS BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS
On Wednesday, April 25th, utility expert Kenneth Rose delivered an hour-long brown-bag lecture on electric deregulation to a room of students and subject-matter experts. Dr. Rose is a lecturer at DePaul University, Senior Fellow with the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University, and Research Fellow at the Chaddick Institute. Email us at chaddick@depaul.edu for more information on his presentation materials.

MANAGING DOCKLESS BIKE-SHARING WEBINAR

On the heals of the Annual Transportation Research Forum in Minneapolis, the Chaddick Institute together with the TRF Chicago chapter hosted a webinar on the topic of dockless bikesharing systems which are growing in popularity. Brandon Bordenkircher and Riley O'Neil of 12 Tone Consulting discussed the allure of these systems, which is driven by their potential to overcome some of the locational, cost and equity constraints of more conventional, docked bikeshare programs such as Divvy in Chicago. Bordenkircher and O'Neil discussed their recent study, Dockless Bikes: Regulation Breakdown, which compares how ten cities throughout the country are managing some of the complications presented by free-floating bike-share programs including issues of operation and maintenance, ethical standards, fleet size, rebalancing, and parking requirements as well as public safety. Thanks to those who participated in this well-attended webinar and participated in the lively question and answer session.

MARCH 2018

THE LEGAL SCOPE OF DESIGN REVIEW

The APA-IL Chicago Metro Section and the Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN) held a sold out workshop on the legal foundations for design review. The event’s key speaker was land use attorney Hart Passman from Holland & Knight who summarized numerous lessons he’s learned concerning the legal foundations and limits of design review and related best practices. John R. Hedrick, a Senior Advisor at DePaul’s Chaddick Institute also discussed some of the legal foundations of the Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN) and emerging practices in the Chicago area. The workshop concluded with a lively question and answer period where several community representatives and staff shared their local experiences and challenges concerning design review. Thanks to all those who participated in this fun and educational event!

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH FORUM BROWN BAG

The Transportation Research Forum's Chicago Chapter held a brown bag lunch, which included five "flash presentations" and associated question and answer discussions on projects going across Chicago and beyond. Presenters included Erik Cempel, Amtrak's Infrastructure Planning Manager at Chicago Union Station, who discussed "Ongoing Enhancements at Chicago Union Station." Chris Kopp, Transportation Planning Director at HNTB, summarized recent work for the Florida Department of Transportation regarding "How Autonomous Vehicles could Change Transit: Advice to MPOs." S. Sriraj, Director of the University of Illinois, Chicago's Urban Transportation Center presented results from a national survey of public transportation agencies concerning their preparation for extreme weather events. David Phillips gave an update of some of the projects at TranSystems that are underway and Joseph Schwieterman briefly talked about planned expansions at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL RTA PLANNING WORKSHOP

In partnership with the Regional Transit Authority, the Chaddick Institute hosted the fourth annual RTA Planning Workshop. This year's theme, Connecting Communities, brought together planning and development professionals from the public, private and non-profit sectors to discuss current TOD-related trends and best practices. Speakers provided evidence of changing perceptions in the mainstream real estate community which is now responding to the growing demand for transit-accessible housing and walkable communities throughout the Chicago region. Eileen Franz (City of Elmhurst) and Bill Eager (Woodlawn Park) presented strategies for infill TOD that are transforming historic downtowns. Planners Emily Egan (Village of Brookfield) and Meagan Jones (City of Evanston) discussed TOD zoning and the right-sizing of parking requirements within TOD areas. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion focused on the benefits and challenges of this new TOD wave the Chicago area is riding.

JANUARY 2018

CHADDICK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OUTING
A group of eight graduate students involved with the Chaddick Institute had a very lively conversation with Lindsay Bayley, current Senior Planner at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Lindsay shared valuable career advice and discussed her work, including bicycle and planning support for communities. The meeting took place at the Willis Tower where CMAP's offices are located. This was a fitting setting to hear about her exceptional work.

WHEN TENANTS TAKE A FALL LAND USE SYMPOSIUM

The Chaddick Institute, in partnership with the DePaul Real Estate Center presentations by ChrisBrewer (Vice President AECOM Economics), Andrew Hochberg (Chief Executive Officer of Next Realty), Paul Shadle (Partner at DLA Piper) and Stephanie Phifer (Director of Sustainability and Urban Planning at the City of Aurora), who discussed how shifts in buying patterns--compounded by declining demand attributable to the sharing economy--are creating both challenges and opportunities in real estate development for investors and local municipalities alike. The sold-out event included a dynamic Q & A with expert panelists as well as opportunities for networking and discussion among attendees. Thanks to all who attended!