CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 20, 2019— The West Central Association is excited to announce that the city of Chicago has approved new meters and residential permit parking ordinances in the West Loop. The meter hours will be from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday. Residential permit parking hours will be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. There will also be an increase in meter fees from $2 to $4.50 per hour.
The city of Chicago based the new ordinances on a 2016 Metropolitan Planning Council study commissioned by the West Central Association. This study was presented by the West Central Association at a community meeting in partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Council in November of 2016. The study was commissioned in order to provide a land use and parking study of the West Central service area. The West Central Association hosted a community meeting on June 28, 2017 to present proposed residential parking ordinances.
The 2016 study highlighted that at the time, 84 percent of parking was free or unrestricted in the West Loop. This was a hindrance to business owners in the area, as “day-trippers” tended to park in prime customer parking spots for extended periods of time.
“Parking is the number one concern of businesses in our community. Adding meters will provide greater turn-over, curb management and availability for those looking to visit our world-class business districts. We look forward to working with the city of Chicago to bring more parking management strategies including performance pricing in the future,” said West Central Association Executive Director Rod Burch.
As the West Loop’s chamber of commerce, we believe that the additional meters and residential permit parking in the West Loop will benefit business owners and residents. Meters allow a greater turn-over during business hours, so more people are able to park in front of the many businesses on commercial corridors and districts including Halsted Street, Madison Street, Randolph Street, and the Fulton Market District.
“The changes to parking policy in the West Loop are driven by the mixed-use and evolving nature of the neighborhood. As such, parking policy should be fluid and subject to change when necessary,” said West Central Association President Armando Chacon. “We would like to thank the greater West Loop community for your feedback and engagement on this matter. We also want to thank Alderman Burnett, Alderman Ervin, Alderman Sigcho-Lopez, and other city department officials for their support and willingness to enact sensible parking policy in the West Loop.”
To view a map of the new meters and residential permit parking zones in the West Loop click here.
West Central Association—
Representative to a large western portion of the city, the West Central Association is the chamber of commerce for the West Loop, Fulton Market, University Village and Commons, Greektown, Tri-Taylor, United Center, Roosevelt Square, Fulton River District, Little Italy, Illinois Medical District, Madison Row, Randolph Street and Jackson Boulevard.
Founded in 1918, the WCA advocates for business and property owners on legislation, taxation, transportation, architectural treatment and model plans. WCA is a city of Chicago Delegate Agency and sole service provider for Greektown Special Service Area #16.