FTA and FHWA have initiated a series of joint Enhanced Planning Reviews (EPRs) to assess the impact of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) on the planning processes conducted by the transportation agencies serving metropolitan areas. The EPRs also are intended to determine the effects of planning on transportation investment processes. The EPR for the Chicago metropolitan area included a federal site visit from December 11 through December 14, 1995. At the conclusion of the visit the federal team presented preliminary observations and recommendations to the local agencies taking part in the review. This final report describes the EPR in detail and provides summary conclusions as well as a complete set of observations and recommendations.