Chicago Revamps City Website For The First Time In Nine Years

For the first time in nine years, Chicago has a new website.

For years, city residents wanting to research licensing, or even pay bills online, were confronted with an outdated, confusing and user un-friendly site--which city officials noticed, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

"The underlying infrastructure was outdated and could not accommodate the rapidly increasing demand," Chief Information Officer Hardik Bhat told the paper Friday. He described the new site as a "big leap forward."

The $1.8 million new site was designed to be more user-friendly and interactive--finding departments is more clear and the search tool that used to leave you lost in a sea of useless information takes you where you need to be

The site also utilizes social networking and newer technology, Broadband and Breakfast reports:

With more than 3,500 pages of information, cityofchicago.org has some neat features you won't find on the typical municipal website. It makes use of embedded video, 225 social media tools (including Twitter and Reddit), RSS feeds--and takes advantage of a service called TechLocator to pinpoint WiFi hotspots in the city.

The changes came after demand for a reliable city site increased.

The Sun-Times reports that over the last three years, online payment transactions more than doubled -- from 240,000 to 600,000. Also, one in five Chicago vehicle stickers were bought online in 2009, up from 8 percent the year before.

"Our goal is to make online transaction with city government fast, efficient, and even enjoyable," Bhat said.