Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Local Newscast

Hear the latest from the WRKF/WWNO Newsroom.

Monday 4/13 2pm: WRKF's FM/HD channels are operating normally following brief maintenance earlier today. Thank you for your patience.

The cautionary tale of Chicago's privatized parking meters

WBUR

Published January 13, 2026 at 10:55 AM CST

In 2008, Chicago’s mayor decided lease out the city’s metered parking system — to privatize all 36,000 of its parking meters.

Planet Money‘s Nick Fountain reports.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.