Chicago Skyway

This video teaching case study tells the story of the Chicago Skyway Toll bridge and how the city of Chicago endured years of complications before it turned the liability into a valuable asset. The purpose of this case study is to explain the evolution of a city asset and examine one option for monetizing that asset. This will enable students to critically assess the decisions made by the city throughout the story.

Students should consider the following questions when watching this video:

1. What other options were available to the city besides leasing the Skyway?
   Do you think using the lease model of a public private partnership was the best way to deal with the Skyway?
   Where do you think the money from the lease went (e.g. was it used to plug a budget deficit, or was it used to fund city projects)?