The city of Chicago needs a local agency empowered to planning, studying, or managing parking, according to a recent opinion piece published by Streetsblog Chicago.
"The future of progressive urbanism in Chicago hinges on how the city manages one specific type of infrastructure: parking," writes Michael Podgers to kick off an opinion piece calling for the creation of an office of parking management.
Podgers criticizes the status quo of parking in Chicago in the starkest possible terms: "Laissez-faire parking management has forced the city’s entire multi-modal transportation system into a state of arrested development. Without rethinking parking, the city is trapping itself into car-dependency."
While Podgers acknowledges the challenges of improving parking in the city of Chicago due to the historically bad contract between the city and its parking meter operator, an office of parking management could solve some of the city's problems, allowing for better inventories of parking availability, better leverage of city-owned properties, and, the possibility of unlocking resources through the use of dynamic management of curb spaces.
"None of this can happen unless the city establishes an office of parking management," writes Podgers. "The impact of parking on all other mobility systems and the value of curb space demands this. The office must be given adequate powers and funded in a meaningful way."
FULL STORY: Here’s why Chicago needs an office of parking management
State of Curbs & Parking Report Reveals Glut of Data
As the uses of curb space become more diverse, city officials are working to understand how to best manage this increasingly important urban amenity.
How Cities Use Tech for Curb Management
Curb monitoring technology is helping cities build a growing understanding of the shifting demand for this valuable urban space.
Motorists Sue Chicago Parking Meter Operator
A lawsuit claims a company's 75-year contract to manage the city of Chicago's parking meters amounts to an "unreasonable" monopoly.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.
When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.
Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service