Noah Kazis writes that "Emanuel and his transportation commissioner, Gabe Klein, want to use that revenue to complete two important transit projects. A new Green Line station at McCormick Place would allow for transit-oriented development in a fast-growing part of the city. A bus rapid transit system with dedicated, camera-enforced lanes, priority at traffic signals and off-board fare payment will be put into place for a new downtown circulator route."
This is deja vu for residents because a similar plan had been brought up in the past. In 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley proposed a plan that would increase parking fees up to $8 a day to fund an BRT system as well, "but opposition kept that plan from being enacted before a federal deadline passed," according to Kazis.
Comments
Call it a downtown parking surcharge please!
Noah writes, "Now, with a proposed $2 “congestion fee” — really a downtown surcharge on the city’s parking tax..."
How 'congestion pricing has become the sour du jour' of pricing! Or is that Streetsblog's application, as I see that the Chicago Sun-Times uses "Parking increase to fund new Cermak L station, downtown express bus service"?
No - it really is being called by “Rahmbo” a 'congestion fee': "...if the City Council approves Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan for a $2-a-day 'congestion fee' on downtown parkers...".
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA