Parking Meter Deal Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Ouch

Time to buy that roll of quarters.

The City of Chicago announced late Wednesday, that the $1.16 billion deal has officially closed and meters will start being changed to the new rates and new days and hours of operation on Friday.

Meters in the Loop will be the first to change, with the new lessee's employees working outward into the neighborhoods.

It should take several weeks before all the meters are changed over. According to the city, they have offered up a timetable that has all 36,000 plus meters changed over in just 24 days. That's 1500 meters a day! I guess we'll have to see, but that sounds a little overly optimistic to me.

Here's the meter rates and meter increase timetable.

*Downtown/Loop: $3.50 an hour (starts February 13)

*Near North, Near West and Near South: $2 an hour (starts February 14)

*Lincoln Park: $1 an hour (starts Feb. 18-19)

*North Side: $1 an hour (starts Feb. 20-28)

*West Side: $1 an hour (starts March 1-2)

*South Side: $1 an hour (starts March 5-9)

After a meter is changed under this new deal, they must be fed 365 days a year. No Sundays off. No parking meter holidays. In some cases, mainly downtown, parking meters will have to be fed 24 hours a day (although the rates are supposed to decrease overnight).

Make sure you check all the signs and stickers on the front of your meter or pay and display machine.

Check out The Expired Meter for even more information and advice about parking, parking tickets and red light tickets in Chicago.

Comments

[DuPageDem]

Since public property is now a private goldmine, may as well go all the way and let homeowners lease the permit-only street spaces out front to this same company.

[Truthseeker55]

Ok Chicago, It is time to vote this bum out of office. You know what? forget voting. The time has come to REVOLT against the unfair taxes and corrupt government officials. It is our RIGHT to do so. Daley and his kind should be tarred and feathered. Where are the Sons of Liberty when you need them?

[Mahi Joe]

We have the highest Sales Tax (10.25%) of any other city in the US. Now Daley sees fit to sell off city parking meters, parking garages and even Midway Airport to private investors. What next, our streets so we can see toll booths at every intersection? Daley needs to go. He is just as bad as Bush in selling out to the highest bidder and could care less about the people. Time to get rid of him.

[mergina]

Dear President Obama. Please make Daley stop RIPPING OFF THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO to the point of bankruptcy.

[47th]

Obama has been an enthusiastic supporter of Daley in the past. It is time Obama commited to his promise of "change" and turned his back on the Chicago machine.

[ADN]

This is what the CITY should've done, so that the money would have gone towards its debit!!?!

[mergina]

You OBVIOUSLY don't live in the city.

[postman606]

Daley has figured more ways to milk citizens than any Mayor in the country.

[MovingtoNorway]

And they keep voting him back into office. A form of insanity.

[BethanylovesObama]

No one ever runs against him

[mergina]

Just another form of Daley Piracy. Raising rates by this much, WHEN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO ARE SO FULL OF POTHOLES PARTS OF BOMBED OUT BAGHDAD HAVE SMOOTHER STREETS is C--R--I--M­--I--N--A-­-L PERIOD.

[Ferrante Photo]

And people keep voting for him ( Daley ). I'm going to go out of my way to shop at the malls in the suburbs & and on the internet ( and places that have validated parking ) The only metered parking I usually use is close to my barber, but a half a block down the street is FREE parking . I'll walk.

[mergina]

Don't let them know where your barber is...they'll put meters in where you park for free.

[Ferrante Photo]

LOL Right down the street from President Obama's house. Really. When he was a IL state senator his office was right next door to my barber's.

I guess I'll get ride and have them circle the block. It only takes 10 minutes ; I'm almost bald.
Daley will probably make a circling fee.

[johnnygoodwud]

once again thanks major daley,,,,,­,,,,,,,now you have some extra cash to pay your partonage cronies.

[MovingtoNorway]

You people in Chicago get the government you deserve. Why do you keep reelecting these thiefs?

[BethanylovesObama]

NO ONE RUNS AGAINST THEM

[Danielle Gleason]

Where are the details about this deal in this story?

who has the contract, and who is benefiting?

Danielle

[Ferrante Photo]

The story was detailed before Christmas. It was actually suppose to begin around Jan. 1, 2009.
I hope it backfires and people go to the suburbs when they can.

[ChiProgressive]

JP Morgan Chase is using the bailout money to pay off our PlMP, I mean mayor, about a billion dollars for a 75 year lease.

City contractor are doing the work of changing the meters. My cousin is out doing this right as we speak.