The Congestion Pricing Movement Comes to Chicago

"Transit advocates and public policy groups are asking Mayor Lori Lightfoot to consider imposing 'congestion pricing' fees to help cut traffic in busy areas during rush hour," according to an article by Mary Wisniewski.

Making the case for congestion pricing in Chicago: a letter signed by representatives of the Active Transportation Alliance, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the Shared-Use Mobility Center, transportation experts from DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Via ride-share service.

"The letter recommends that single-passenger trips that start and finish in transit-rich areas during rush hour should come with a high fee, while shared trips to and from 'transit deserts' and low-income areas should be exempted or have a much lower fee," according to Wisniewski.

On the receiving end, Mayor Lightfoot's administration has shown a willingness to experiment with new funding mechanisms for transportation, though it hasn't shown specific support for congestion pricing, yet.