<p style="color:#111111;background-color:#ffffff;">The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's InnovateNow initiative in partnership with <a href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.innocentive.com%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000ff;">InnoCentive</span></a> has chosen the winners of a global open-innovation challenge aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions released by automobiles by increasing local transit ridership to 1 billion rides a year. To launch this global competition, the <a href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagolandchamber.org%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000ff;">Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce</span></a> worked with InnoCentive, a nationally renowned open innovation network. This network is becoming an increasingly common platform for companies and organizations to tap the public to solve their business challenges, enabling them to connect with creative thinkers from around the world. The challenge generated more than 125 proposals from locations as far away as Kenya, Australia and Japan. </p> <p><a href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.innovatenow.us" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><span>Learn more about the full details of the Challenge</span></span></a></p> <p>Some of these ideas proposed by the Solvers included transformational green initiatives, updated approaches to marketing, and new fare structures. The Chicagoland Chamber now plans to compile all proposals and present them to regional transportation officials at the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace.</p> <p>Each winner will receive mention at the upcoming 2009 Innovation Summit presented by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation's InnovateNow and the Illinois Institute of Technology Institute of Design.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fsummit.innovatenow.us%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><a style="color:#0000ff;" href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fsummit.innovatenow.us" target="_blank">Learn More About the 2009 Innovation Summit</a></span></a> </p> <h3><span> <div>Chicago Tribune Exclusive</div></span></h3> <span><span><span> <div>On March 30 the Chicago Tribune ran an exclusive story detailing the Challenge and announcing the winners. Tribune transportation reporter Jon Hilkevitch covered the story which was featured on the front page of that day's edition of the Chicago Tribune.</div></span></span></span> <span><span><span><a href="http://www.ammado.com/redirect/external?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2fnews%2flocal%2ftransportation%2fchi-getting-around-30-mar30%2c0%2c4017581.column" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000ff;"> <div>View Article</div></span></a></span></span></span> <h1><span> <div> <h3>Chicago Climate Action Plan</h3></div></span></h1> <p>The Chamber launched the InnoCentive Challenge to support efforts underway within the region’s mass transit agencies and the City of Chicago’s "Chicago Climate Action Plan." Released by the city in 2008, the plan indicates that reducing automobiles on the road and minimizing the number of miles driven will have a demonstrable positive effect on the City’s greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <a href="http://www.ammado.com/wdkm_in/wcm/resources/documents/adobe_pdf/sustainability_challenge/5117_1062321_42244/chicago_climate_action_plan.pdf"></a><span> <div><strong> <h3>Challenge Winner</h3></strong></div></span>The winner of the challenge, Aaron Renn will be receiving $5,000 from the Chamber and InnoCentive for his in-depth, comprehensive proposal.  In the winning entry, Renn detailed recommendations to better utilize existing capacity and add new capacity. Among the recommendations were (1) more efficiently utilizing the existing infrastructure, especially adding new off-peak rides and shifting rides from peak to shoulder periods; (2) adding a new bus rapid transit component to the CTA system; and (3) increasing mainline capacity on rail and bus. The submission also offered methods to entice new riders including (1) a more rider-centric view that focuses on maximizing the attractiveness of transit versus the alternatives in terms of cost, end to end journey time, and quality of experience; and (2) maximizing demand for trips by increasing employment in the Loop and changing policies with regards to land use.

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's InnovateNow initiative in partnership with InnoCentive has chosen the winners of a global open-innovation challenge aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions released by automobiles by increasing local transit ridership to 1 billion rides a year. To launch this global competition, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce worked with InnoCentive, a nationally renowned open innovation network. This network is becoming an increasingly common platform for companies and organizations to tap the public to solve their business challenges, enabling them to connect with creative thinkers from around the world. The challenge generated more than 125 proposals from locations as far away as Kenya, Australia and Japan. 

Learn more about the full details of the Challenge

Some of these ideas proposed by the Solvers included transformational green initiatives, updated approaches to marketing, and new fare structures. The Chicagoland Chamber now plans to compile all proposals and present them to regional transportation officials at the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace.

Each winner will receive mention at the upcoming 2009 Innovation Summit presented by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation's InnovateNow and the Illinois Institute of Technology Institute of Design.

Learn More About the 2009 Innovation Summit 

Chicago Tribune Exclusive

On March 30 the Chicago Tribune ran an exclusive story detailing the Challenge and announcing the winners. Tribune transportation reporter Jon Hilkevitch covered the story which was featured on the front page of that day's edition of the Chicago Tribune.

View Article

Chicago Climate Action Plan

The Chamber launched the InnoCentive Challenge to support efforts underway within the region’s mass transit agencies and the City of Chicago’s "Chicago Climate Action Plan." Released by the city in 2008, the plan indicates that reducing automobiles on the road and minimizing the number of miles driven will have a demonstrable positive effect on the City’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Challenge Winner

The winner of the challenge, Aaron Renn will be receiving $5,000 from the Chamber and InnoCentive for his in-depth, comprehensive proposal.  In the winning entry, Renn detailed recommendations to better utilize existing capacity and add new capacity. Among the recommendations were (1) more efficiently utilizing the existing infrastructure, especially adding new off-peak rides and shifting rides from peak to shoulder periods; (2) adding a new bus rapid transit component to the CTA system; and (3) increasing mainline capacity on rail and bus. The submission also offered methods to entice new riders including (1) a more rider-centric view that focuses on maximizing the attractiveness of transit versus the alternatives in terms of cost, end to end journey time, and quality of experience; and (2) maximizing demand for trips by increasing employment in the Loop and changing policies with regards to land use.