Sesamir Yearby of Chicago pays the parking meter box on South Clark Street in downtown Chicago on Wednesday as he makes his way to a job interview. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago street parking rates are going up -- again.
The third of five scheduled annual rate increases is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. But it probably will take several weeks or so to reprogram all of the 4,100 electronic boxes, and drivers will be able to park at the old rates until they are.
Here's what you'll have to pay:
--$5 an hour (up from $4.25) in the downtown area (bounded by the south side of Congress Parkway on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, the north side of Wacker Drive on the north, and the west side of Wacker on the west).
--$3 an hour (up from $2.50) in areas adjacent to downtown (bounded by the south side of Roosevelt Road on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, the north side of North Avenue on the North and the west side of Halsted Street on the west. Included are River North, the Gold Coast, parts of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side).
--$1.50 an hour (up from $1.25) in outlying neighborhoods.
According to published reports, Chicago will continue to have the highest downtown parking rates in the country, topping New York's $3.75 an hour and Los Angeles' $4.
Two more rounds of increases are scheduled under the roundly criticized lease agreement that gave the city a quick cash infusion three years ago of $1.16 billion--most of which has already been spent. The agreement covers the city's approximately 36,000 parking spaces for a 75-year term.
Downtown parking will rise to $5.75 in 2012 and $6.50 in 2013. Parking in areas bordering downtown will increase to $3.50 and $4. Parking in outlying areas will go to $1.75 and $2.
After 2013, rate increases will be tied to the rate of inflation.
A spokesman for Chicago Parking Meters LLC, the private firm that now operates on-street parking, was not immediately available for comment.
Parking meters on 79th Street in Chatham between King Drive and Cottage Grove Avenue will be affected by the neighborhood rate increase.
--$3 an hour (up from $2.50) in areas adjacent to downtown (bounded by the south side of Roosevelt Road on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, the north side of North Avenue on the North and the west side of Halsted Street on the west. Included are River North, the Gold Coast, parts of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side).
--$1.50 an hour (up from $1.25) in outlying neighborhoods.
According to published reports, Chicago will continue to have the highest downtown parking rates in the country, topping New York's $3.75 an hour and Los Angeles' $4.
Two more rounds of increases are scheduled under the roundly criticized lease agreement that gave the city a quick cash infusion three years ago of $1.16 billion--most of which has already been spent. The agreement covers the city's approximately 36,000 parking spaces for a 75-year term.
Downtown parking will rise to $5.75 in 2012 and $6.50 in 2013. Parking in areas bordering downtown will increase to $3.50 and $4. Parking in outlying areas will go to $1.75 and $2.
After 2013, rate increases will be tied to the rate of inflation.
A spokesman for Chicago Parking Meters LLC, the private firm that now operates on-street parking, was not immediately available for comment.
Parking meters on 79th Street in Chatham between King Drive and Cottage Grove Avenue will be affected by the neighborhood rate increase.
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ReplyDeleteMiguel del Valle is offering real solutions to the real problems caused by parking meter deal. Read this article in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miguel-del-valle/as-mayor-of-chicago-i-wil_b_803840.html
ReplyDeleteFinally someone that is taking a real stand against the parking meter debacle