Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about parking

The Long, Painful History of Terrible Parking Policy in One 71-Second Cartoon

By Tanya Snyder | Sep 12, 2013 | No Comments

If you haven’t been keeping up with Sightline Institute’s excellent series on the scourge of parking minimums, you’ve been missing out. They’ve posted 11 readable and informative articles on the subject. From here, Sightline is pivoting from problems to solutions, and we’ll be sharing their next few posts on Streetsblog, as well as re-posting some […]

Why Is St. Louis Using Tax Money to Subsidize Parking Lots and Bars?

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 15, 2013 | No Comments

Tax increment financing is a pretty neat tool cities can use to finance quality-of-life amenities, like the Beltline in Atlanta, or the streetcar in Kansas City, by capturing the taxes from the property value increases of the investments. On the other hand, there’s a new model being pioneered by St. Louis, where you use special […]

CDOT Unveils Bold Vision for Milwaukee Bike Lanes; Drivers Grouse

By John Greenfield | May 1, 2013 | 40 Comments

At last night’s community meeting at Intuit arts center, the Chicago Department of Transportation discussed its vision for innovative bike lanes on Milwaukee between Kinzie and Elston. The plan, which is actually much more ambitious than what was outlined on the CDOT website prior to the meeting, involves removing about half of the car-parking spaces […]

CDOT Discusses Plans for Buffered and Protected Lanes on Milwaukee Tonight

By John Greenfield | Apr 30, 2013 | 2 Comments

If you live or work on the Near Northwest Side and/or bike commute regularly on Milwaukee Avenue, try to stop by tonight’s community meeting on the city’s proposal for buffered and protected bike lanes on Milwaukee between Kinzie and Elston. The meeting takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Intuit arts center, 756 North […]

Renegotiated Parking Meter Deal Is a Mixed Blessing

By John Greenfield | Apr 29, 2013 | 26 Comments

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s announcement today that he has renegotiated the city’s much-hated parking meter contract to save an estimated $1 billion over the next 71 years appears to be a big win for Chicago residents. The introduction of a new pay-by-cell option, albeit with a 35-cent convenience fee, also seems to be a good thing. […]

In a Win for Wrigleyville Residents, Cubs Won’t Build Parking Garage

By Steven Vance | Apr 15, 2013 | 22 Comments

Today Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, and the Chicago Cubs announced that they’ve reached a deal for modifications to Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood. Thanks in part to a petition signed by over 230 people and other organizing efforts, a proposed 500-space parking garage near the ballpark won’t be part of the […]

More Parking Around Wrigley Will Only Bring More Traffic

By Steven Vance | Apr 8, 2013 | 14 Comments

The Cubs are expected to announce a deal with Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward later today that would add a large parking garage and a hotel to the area near Wrigley Field, as well as modifications to the stadium itself. The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that “the Cubs have agreed to create extra parking in […]

Goodbye North Avenue Parking Controls. Hello Bike Lanes?

By Steven Vance | Apr 5, 2013 | 3 Comments

Rush hour parking controls, which ban parking on one side of a street during the morning and evening rush so more traffic can flow in the peak direction, are incompatible with most if not all types of bike lanes. A few months ago, the Chicago Department of Transportation did away with rush hour parking controls […]

To Make Cycling Accessible, Milwaukee Needs Continuous Protection

By Steven Vance | Mar 7, 2013 | 17 Comments

The Chicago Department of Transportation is proposing to build a protected bike lane on Milwaukee Avenue in River West, connecting the protected bike lane on Elston Avenue with the protected bike lane on Kinzie Avenue. This project could help many more Chicagoans feel safe enough to bike on city streets, but as we reported earlier this week, […]

A Mistake By the Lake? Developer Wants a 250-Car Garage in Rogers Park

By John Greenfield | Jan 28, 2013 | 26 Comments

[This piece also appears in Checkerboard City, John’s weekly transportation column in Newcity magazine, which hits the streets on Wednesday evenings.] Colonel J.N. Pritzker, one of Chicago’s wealthiest, most influential residents, is a historic preservationist and a bicycle advocate. As an heir to the Pritzker family fortune and longtime Rogers Park resident, the billionaire has […]

Confused DNA Article on BRT Highlights Need to Pick Preferred Option ASAP

By John Greenfield | Jan 28, 2013 | 8 Comments

It looks like some reporters are having trouble wrapping their heads around the city’s forward-thinking proposal to build Bus Rapid Transit on Western and/or Ashland. A DNAinfo.com write-up of a recent BRT meeting includes a few inaccurate statements and implies that the CTA and Chicago Department of Transportation are intent on removing large amounts parking […]