The Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative, presents the area's foremost symposium on urban sprawl. More than 100 transportation, planning and development professionals, students and academics will meet to address and debate issues surrounding the "spread" of low-density, urban populations into areas outlying a city center.

Nationally recognized experts will offer their perspectives on the use of open space, including:

• Reid Ewing - renowned expert on growth management, traffic management and community development
• Peter Gordon - author of publications addressing problems of new urbanism as well as coeditor of the forthcoming book "Voluntary Cities"
• Wim Wiewel, dean of UIC's College of Business Administration and professor of urban planning and policy, who will also be the featured luncheon speaker

Friday, Sept. 8

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.)

UIC Chicago Circle Center 750 S. Halsted St.

Is urban sprawl an efficient use of our land resources? This is a question that has been addressed for several years to which there is no easy answer. Some experts see sprawl as bad, while others see it as mearly just a sign of progress.

Either way, sprawl eats up open space and farmland. But to what degree does it contribute to congestion on the areas' transportation networks?

For registration information, phone (312) 996-4820 or visit the conference Web site at http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/