Chicago Misses Deadline for $153 Million Transit Grant

"The administration this week quietly pulled back a pending ordinance that would have hiked fees and taxes for off-street parking in garages and on surface lots downtown by as much as $8 a day. The measure was supposed to be the stick for a big carrot: a $153-million federal grant announced last spring to begin a pilot express transportation system known as bus rapid transit."

"But the measure, which arrived in the wake of large hikes in parking-meter fess, drew strong opposition from business groups. And even if the mayor had put down the opposition, the ordinance was not approved by the Dec. 31 deadline mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation."

"The city asked for a two-week extension so the ordinance could be approved at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting. But outgoing U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters late last week phoned Mr. Daley to tell him the request had been rejected - meaning that the city, at least for now, is out $153 million."