Metra Crawl! Making all scheduled stops in Park Ridge and Arlington Heights. Have your tickets ready! Join APA-CMS for a tour of transit-oriented and transit-adjacent development at two stops along the UP-NW corridor and discuss the challenges and benefits of a lively outdoor dining scene.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
TIME: 4:15 - 6:15 PM + Networking
COST (does not include train ticket, purchase train ticket on your own):
$15 Member
$20 Non-Member
$5 Student
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: (CM | 1.5)
SCHEDULE
3:35 PM (optional): OTC to Park Ridge (arrives 4:04 PM)
4:15 PM (official start): Park Ridge – tour/discussion
5:04 PM: Train to Arlington Heights (arrives 5:22 PM)
5:30 PM: Arlington Heights – tour/discussion
6:15 PM (official end): Networking tentatively at Arlington Ale House (111 W Campbell St, Arlington Heights)
6:19/6:49x/7:19 PM (optional): Arlington Heights to OTC
Updates as of 4/26/24:
Let's ride the train together! Ryan Peterson from Epstein will be on the 3:35 PM from Ogilvie Transportation Center to Park Ridge. Look for him on the platform, wearing a high-vis vest and holding a sign.
For everyone else, the first stop on the tour is Park Ridge, and we will meet on the platform on the north side of the tracks. There is free parking at the Park Ridge Public Library.
The networking location in Arlington Heights is still TBD.* (final location coming soon)
SPEAKERS
Michael Mertes is the Business Development Manager for the Village of Arlington Heights, and has served in that capacity since 2013. He previously served as Economic Development Coordinator for the City of St. Charles. In addition to business attraction, retention, and marketing efforts, Michael manages incentive programs such as the Village’s Zero Interest Loan for small businesses, and the Cook County property tax abatement programs. He also assists in the administration of Arlington Alfresco, the community’s annual outdoor dining program that runs from May-September, which hosted over 225,000 visitors in 2023.
Claudia Hampel is a Planning & Zoning Coordinator for the City of Park Ridge. She has been with the City since August of 2021. She routinely reviews building permits, conducts zoning enforcement, evaluates zoning applications and most recently has been involved in the Uptown Master Plan process. She serves as the staff liaison to the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Appearance Commission. Claudia has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Dayton and a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Drew Awsumb, AICP is currently the Community Development Director for the City of Park Ridge, Illinois and has approximately twenty years of experience in local government management. Prior to serving in Park Ridge, Drew was the Deputy Director of Community Development for the City of Highland Park. He also worked across the country as an urban planning consultant in a wide variety of communities. Drew holds a Bachelor's in Political Science from American University in Washington, D.C., a Master's of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and a Master's of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Ryan Peterson, AICP, is a passionate urban planner specializing in transportation planning who works toward advancing equity, innovation, and diverse mobility options. He received an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Previously, he worked for the Kane Kendall Council of Mayors and McHenry County Division of Transportation before his current employment at Epstein Global. Ryan’s current projects include several suburban bicycle and pedestrian plans, safety action plans, corridor studies, transit station expansion, and comprehensive plans. Ryan grew up in Cary and frequently utilized the UP-Northwest Line for travel throughout the region, sparking his love for public transit and mobility. He has previously organized four Metra Crawls among friends and family to celebrate various life milestones.
CONTACT INFO
Please contact Justin Keller, cms@ilapa.org with any questions.
Photo credit: "METX 142 in Norwood Park on the UP Harvard Subdivision" by vxla is licensed under CC BY 2.0