Curious Creature

Via City Room at the NYT news that Chicago is gaining some of what New York City lost when it shelved it’s plans for traffic congestion pricing. Chicago gets $153 million in order to finance both variable rate parking meters for downtown and new dedicated bus lanes with buses that have technology that keeps lights green longer to allow them to get through intersections faster.

Sounds fantastic. I’d love to know how they’re going to fit dedicated bus lanes in an already crowded downtown.

More at the Chicago Tribune.

Illinois has a new rebate available for $1000 for buying a hybrid vehicle via the Green Rewards program.

The best part of the news clip I read was this:

Giannoulias, a first-term treasurer, will travel the state in his own Ford Escape hybrid to promote the initiative.

Isn’t that like putting lipstick on a pig?