MarKBMO

Hmm. Don't know where you were parking in Chicago (except at a hotel, if you were staying overnight, and yes they'll gouge you), but most lots I know of have a $26 maximum rate for 24 hours. Long term parking in Chicago is expensive. (For those into maps: http://www.chicagoparkingmap.com/) Short-term is different. Those are the prices that are too close to Chicago rates without Chicago's amenities. I could park downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue for $13 a day. What's the lot by the Federal building in GR up to? $14.50? And $12 a few blocks away? I can get $8 in some city lots, but I also paid that the other night at an Ellis lot to eat at Bull's Head for a couple hours. I paid only $10 to park in Wrigleyville for dinner last month. Perception is reality. As long as people in GR think it's a hassle to go downtown, navigate construction, find a lot open after 6 that doesn't have event parking, and walk, then it *is* a hassle. Instead of saying "get over it and walk," we should instead be figuring out how to make it seem less of a hassle. Light rail is long term; what can be done in the short term? MK

I still think the commuter costs in Grand Rapids are waaaay too close to Chicago costs, without nearly the benefit. I lived there for twelve years; just moved back to GR last winter. I am shocked that I'm paying only two or three dollars less for parking; the meters are MORE expensive; and now there's talk of a light rail pass from a GR suburb for $75??? I paid only $95 from a suburb 25 miles outside Chicago! And had access to the shows, restaurants, shopping, jobs, lakeshore, museums... I understand--and agree--that there is too much surface area in downtown Grand Rapids devoted to parking. That doesn't mean it's convenient to go downtown. No, people driving into downtown won't walk more than a couple blocks. No, people won't pay a lot without griping--or turning around and heading to the 'burbs. They do what's easiest, and, I can tell you from years of experience, taking the train from park-and-ride lots ain't easy. Don't get me wrong--it's a great option to have for daily commuters, but that doesn't even begin to fix the let's-go-downtown-to-eat-or-shop problem. Any reason why GR can't do what Naperville, Illinois does with it's downtown parking? (Naperville pop. ~150,000, with a county population of ~932,000). Naperville created Special Service Areas to specifically pay for FREE parking. Recent memorandum discussing the SSAs http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/4-1...20Worksheet.pdf