By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on Monday announced $450 million in federal funding is available for roadway, transit and bike and pedestrian projects across northeastern Illinois for federal fiscal years 2028 through 2032.
Local governments and transit agencies in the seven-county region can now apply for dollars from three programs: the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, the Surface Transportation Program Shared Fund and the Transportation Alternatives Program. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, according to a CMAP announcement.
CMAP administers the federal transportation funding every two years, distributing it to communities and agencies within the region. The three programs support projects that improve safety and accessibility, strengthen transportation connections and reduce emissions, consistent with CMAP’s 2026 Regional Transportation Plan.
The agency has published a series of fact sheets organized by funding program to help applicants understand eligible project types, requirements, scoring criteria and milestone dates. Separate sheets are available for the CMAQ, STP Shared Fund and TAP-L programs.
To help potential applicants navigate the process, CMAP will host a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. The session will be available online via Zoom and will be recorded and uploaded to CMAP’s YouTube channel for those unable to attend live.
CMAP staff will also hold drop-in office hours sessions from November through mid-December. Nine sessions are scheduled between Nov. 2 and Dec. 17, each available via Zoom without advance registration. Applicants can ask questions about the call for projects and the application process during those windows.
The $450 million funding cycle comes as the Chicago region faces growing demands on its transportation infrastructure. CMAP’s 2026 Regional Transportation Plan identifies strengthening regional rail, improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians and reducing emissions as priorities for the seven-county area that includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
Previous CMAP-administered funding cycles have supported a range of projects including road resurfacing, new transit stations, bike lane construction and pedestrian safety improvements. The competitive process requires local sponsors to submit detailed project proposals that are scored against regional priorities.
Applicants with project-specific questions can contact their CMAP planning liaison. General inquiries can be directed to transportation@cmap.illinois.gov.
The call for projects webpage, accessible through CMAP’s website, contains full details on eligibility requirements and the application portal.
