City Mulling "Congestion Fee"

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 19, 2008 5:40PM

A new plan being considered by the mayor could add a new fee to those wanting to park downtown in an effort to reduce congestion and to raise funds for public transit. The new ordinance, which Mayor Daley introduced ninja-like yesterday apparently hoping we'd be so worried about snow and plows that we wouldn't notice, would also charge per-minute fees on trucks that block traffic during peak hours. But the ordinance seems kind of vague and shady.

The mayor's ordinance makes no mention of specific congestion fees. It merely gives the city's revenue director unbridled power to set the rates and adjust them without City Council approval. A study under way by the Civic Consulting Alliance will determine the size of the increase.

"The price can be moved regularly until we find that sweet spot where it alters behavior. We're trying to have the minimum amount we need to charge in order to encourage people to drive a little earlier or a little later and use mass transit," [CTA President Ron] Huberman said.

Of course, coming in the wake of not only a higher parking tax for downtown parking that costs more than $12 and the infamous privatizing of the city's parking meters, we imagine there'll be something of an uproar. And nice job, Mayor, trying to sneak that one past when no one was looking.

Photo by bheur