Metropolis Strategies will exit in May

After 15 years of advocating for change and reforms in transportation, planning and justice issues, Metropolis Strategies will end its mission in May.

The civic group, founded by the Commercial Club of Chicago and originally known as Metropolis 2020, announced its exit Thursday. It issued "Chicago Metropolis 2020," which analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the six-county region and recommended improvements.

"Metropolis has achieved specific results because of its ability to bring diverse voices to the table," President George Ranney said in a statement.

"It was created as a temporary organization, so (the closure) is according to plan," Metropolis Senior Executive Jim LaBelle said.

"It's gone on longer than we thought we would ... but it's time. Not everything is done and lot of work will be continued in other venues."

The group weighed in on a number of transportation issues ranging from freight congestion to the viability of the Regional Transportation Authority to extending Route 53.

Metropolis officials listed among its accomplishments: establishment of the Metropolitan Agency for Planning, working for a climate action plan in the Chicago region, improving preschool opportunities, pushing for economic growth and advocating for juvenile justice reforms.