Washington To Fund Chicago's Transport Modernization Project

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Chicago was given a $153 million grant by the federal government to fix its worsening traffic problem. The amount would be used to buy more buses for the Chicago Transit Authority and new parking meters that charges higher rates during rush hour.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Mayor Richard Daley signed the funding agreement Tuesday at the University of Illinois.

According to a survey by BusinessWeek Research Services, 24 percent of the 1,000 city residents surveyed said they were often tardy at work because of the massive gridlock, while 28 percent said they would be willing to be employed elsewhere to avoid long hours spent on commuting. Chicago is one the three worst cities in terms of traffic and is the third largest city in the U.S.

The modernization of Chicago's mass transport system is expected to encourage more residents to leave their cars at home to decongest the city's streets of private vehicles. Aside from buying faster buses, dedicated bus lanes would be designated on for major roads, including Lake Shore Drive.

The new buses would also have lesser stops, every four or five blocks, while kiosks would be installed at bus stops to allow prepayment of fares and hasten the boarding process for passengers.

New York was awarded last year by the federal government $354 million to address its traffic woes by putting in place a congestion tax, patterned after London and Singapore. But the schemed was thumbed down by state and local politicians. Part of the grant that Chicago got came from the funds allocated for New York City.