Welcome to Metro Strategies, Inc.

Projects

Chicago Department of Transportation
CREATE Program & Railroad Issues
Metro Strategies, as part of the Cambridge Systematics team supporting the Chicago Region and Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, provides the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) with strategic planning and implementation guidance for the CREATE Program. This includes assistance in advocacy initiatives including coalition-building, material preparation, and public outreach and involvement efforts in conjunction with the Advocacy Committee. Metro Strategies provides assistance to Mayor Richard M. Daley’s CREATE Advisory Committee as needed. Duties include coordination and facilitation of public outreach to elected officials, civic, business and community organizations including assistance in preparation and review of external outreach materials. Metro Strategies provides contract services to CDOT in managing the administration of the CREATE committees, assist with rail related issues and other activities as requested.

Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
Government Affairs
Metro Strategies assists Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL) with its public relations program designed to create and maintain a positive public image for the firm and its clients. This entails representing the firm at various meetings and events as well as representing clients on special project task forces. Metro Strategies staff works with municipal clients in identifying and obtaining project funding from state and federal funding sources. We prepare funding applications and provide any follow up reporting required by the funding agency. We act as a liaison to county, state and federal agencies on behalf of clients and CBBEL to coordinate projects and resolve issues.

Grant Writing

Our firm specializes in researching project funding opportunities, preparing all required documents, and working with funding agencies through the entire process to ensure successful results for clients. Metro Strategies has been instrumental in assisting communities obtain funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Chicago Area Transportation Study, Regional Transportation Authority, as well as through the Illinois legislature and federal programs.

Project examples include:

Village of Bellwood
Corridor Redevelopment Plans
The Village of Bellwood received an Illinois Tomorrow Corridor Planning Grant from IDOT to develop a redevelopment and transportation plan for Mannheim Road (US 45) and an RTAP grant from the RTA to conduct a corridor study for St. Charles Road. Both projects will tie into a planned TOD for 25th Avenue along the Union Pacific West Line. Metro Strategies worked with the Village to implement these two grants by coordinating with funding agencies, developing a project scope of work and budget, and preparing the RTA project application.

Village of Melrose Park
Lake Street Redevelopment Plan
The Village of Melrose Park received an RTAP grant from the RTA to prepare a redevelopment plan for the Lake Street corridor. Metro Strategies prepared the RTA application, developed the scope of work and budget, and prepared the RFP.

Southwest Conference of Mayors
Harlem Avenue Corridor
Metro Strategies is assisting the Southwest Conference of Mayors implement a federal transportation grant received by the Conference to improve Harlem Avenue from 65th Avenue to I-80. Metro Strategies is coordinating with nine communities along the Harlem Avenue Corridor on various improvement requests. We are working with the Southwest Conference to leverage the $3 million in federal dollars received in order to obtain the additional funding needed to implement the entire $20 million improvement project.

Illinois Department of Transportation
Criminal Justice System Review Advisory Committee
Metro Strategies established the communications and partnerships needed to create the Criminal Justice System Review Advisory Committee. In September 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Technical Assistance Team conducted an Alcohol Program Re-Assessment for the State of Illinois. Out of this re-assessment twenty-eight priority recommendations were produced. Many of the stated goals have been accomplished by IDOT and their partners. Ten of the recommendations deal directly with the State of Illinois’ judicial system. In 2006, the Criminal Justice System Review Advisory Committee was established to begin addressing these ten issues. The Advisory Committee is composed of four to five judges from around the state, legislators, representatives from the Secretary of State’s office, and representatives from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. Metro Strategies coordinates and facilitates the Advisory Committee meetings. Our firm provides administrative assistance for all functions relating to the Criminal Justice System Review Advisory Committee and any other tasks that IDOT deems appropriate. With the input of the panel and IDOT staff, Metro Strategies will construct a final report detailing the recommendations and next steps.

PACE
South Cook County –Will County Restructuring Initiative
Metro Strategies is assisting Pace with community outreach efforts on its South Cook County - Will County Restructuring Initiative. We developed an outreach strategy with Pace that covers 81 communities. Metro Strategies helped in creating three Community Advisory Groups, one for each of the three Councils of Mayors in the Initiative area: South, Southwest, and Will. Metro Strategies is assisting Pace with outreach to the 81 communities, as well as with other key stakeholders including the Townships. In addition, we coordinate the Community Advisory Group meetings and assist Pace with communication to these groups. Metro Strategies also is responsible for coordination and communication with the three municipal conferences in the Initiative area and works closely with their executive directors. As part of the Initiative, a series of public meetings will be held that Metro Strategies will organize and help facilitate.

Regional Transportation Authority
Strategic Plan
The Regional Transportation Study (RTA) is preparing a strategic plan for transit in the northeastern Illinois region. Metro Strategies is on the PB Consult, Inc. team and is assisting with outreach and communication efforts. Responsibilities include developing an outreach strategy, conducting outreach to key stakeholders and elected officials, engaging them in the process, identifying and scheduling speaking opportunities about the strategic plan, and helping RTA build a coalition for plan implementation. Metro Strategies will assist in planning and coordinating regional meetings that will be held at key milestones throughout the process.

Our Experience

CREATE Program
City of Chicago, Department of Transportation
Laura Wilkison

Managed the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, a $1.5 billion rail infrastructure program.
Chaired the CREATE Advocacy Committee, comprised of the Chicago Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Transportation, Association of American Railroads, BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX Transportation, Metra, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.
Coordinated and facilitated CREATE public outreach to elected officials (local, state, federal), civic, business and community organizations.
Managed the CREATE website and all public outreach materials.

Critical Cargo
Metropolitan Planning Council
Karyn Romano

Prepared and implemented an outreach and communication strategy to be conducted at the regional, state, and federal levels on freight issues facing the Chicago region.
Prepared the Metropolitan Planning Council’s report “Critical Cargo” with involvement from key players in the region including railroads, shippers, government agencies, and academics.
Organized one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders in Illinois and Washington.
Solicited endorsement forms from private and government entities.
Organized educational forums, updates and articles which were distributed through e-mails and MPC’s website.
Speakers were identified and scheduled to make presentations at conferences and for various organizations.
Coordinated Editorial Board meetings to promote the need for a regional freight plan. This work supported the development of CREATE, the $1.5 billion rail plan for the Chicago region.

Federal and State Legislative Agenda
City of Chicago, Department of Transportation
Laura Wilkison

Formulated the annual legislative agenda and outreach strategy for the Chicago Department of Transportation.
Worked extensively in devising project-focused messages for congressional outreach. This resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for the City of Chicago and included projects such as the 130th and Torrence Grade Separation, Milwaukee Avenue Reconstruction, 67th Street Pedestrian Underpass, and the CREATE Program.
Monitored state and federal legislation and prepared policy analysis and recommendations for the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

TEA-3 Recommendations and Workshops
Metropolitan Planning Council
Karyn Romano

Managed Business Leaders for Transportation’s TEA-3 Working Group comprised of business leaders, the Illinois Department of Transportation, transit agencies, regional planning agencies, and local government representatives.
Conducted individual meetings with key stakeholders and elected officials to discuss TEA-3 regional recommendations and solicit input. Meetings were held with federal agency representatives, national associations, and congressional members and their staff.
Held media briefings to promote the recommendations and regional cooperation.
Organized eight TEA-3 outreach forums with members of congress to engage the business community in the transportation debate and to inform congressional members of transportation’s impact on business.
Prepared and distributed surveys at each forum to solicit input from participants.
Provided packets with sample letters to the editor, sample letters to congressional members, key contacts and other pertinent information to be active in the issue.
Sent weekly e-mail to Business Leaders for Transportation members with TEA-3 updates and advocacy action items.
Wrote articles for Chambers of Commerce for distribution to their members.
Managed a website to keep members informed of TEA-3 developments and action items.