Regionally Significant Projects (RSP) Resource Group

Regionally significant projects (RSPs) are capital investments in the region’s expressways, transit system, and arterials with impacts and benefits that are large enough to warrant additional analysis and discussion through the regional planning process.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is responsible for allocating federal transportation funds in northeastern Illinois. Every four years, CMAP is required to update its long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that guides the allocation of these federal dollars. The plan must identify, evaluate, and prioritize RSPs.

As part of the RTP, the federal government also requires CMAP to demonstrate fiscal constraint by showing that sufficient resources will be available to build these major projects over the plan horizon. Fiscally constrained RSPs are eligible to receive federal transportation funds and obtain certain federal approvals.

This next plan cycle presents an opportunity for CMAP to conduct a review of and consider updates to its existing RSP policies and procedures, including:

• Definitions and thresholds
• Identification, evaluation, and selection of projects
• Documentation and reporting

This page will store all materials related to the resource group, including meeting notes, presentations, and more. The Information Booklet, located under resources on the right, provides more detail on the project and its objectives.