The Chicago Moves initiative will issue up to 50,000 preloaded gas cards worth $ 150 each, which will be distributed to residents through a lottery system, Lightfoot told a news conference. “People need to be able to go to work, to school, to places of worship, to medical offices, to grocery stores,” Lightfoot said. “The goal of this program is to help make these moves easier.” The city will also issue $ 100,000 preloaded public transportation cards worth $ 50, the mayor added. Chicago is largely the first major city to set up such a program to offer some relief amid rising gas prices. “At the price of a gallon of gasoline, you could drive the entire CTA system across the city all day. A 30-day, four-month ride costs almost as much as a tank of gas,” said Chicago Passage Authority President Dorval Carter , Jr. The cards will be valid for one year after their issuance and can only be spent on fuel costs at gas stations located in the city of Chicago, according to an announcement. Chicagoans can start applying for the cards on April 27, pending approval by City Council, the mayor said. Applications are limited to one per household. The cards will be distributed from May in waves of 10,000 inhabitants. To be eligible, candidates must:

Be a Chicago resident Be at least 18 years old Have a current and valid city sticker with the correct mail information for their vehicle Have a family income equal to or less than 140% of the Chicago Area Average Income

Lightfoot noted that a “significant” amount of residents’ income goes to gasoline, with many paying over $ 70 to fully fill their vehicle tank. “I know from talking to a lot of residents that they feel pressure. There is no ‘though’ or ‘but’. My administration is working through a variety of options to see how we can provide the greatest relief to as many residents as we can,” he said. Lightfoot. High fuel prices, along with escalating costs for groceries and other items, are hurting consumers to a great extent, Lightfoot said. He said he would ask Raul to investigate the rapid escalation of gas prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I will encourage the Attorney General to look at this huge rapid escalation of gas prices,” he said. “I am very worried about the gas spill and I do not blame anyone, but the Attorney General deserves to see it, because the escalation really costs people.” As of Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of gas is $ 4,225, according to the AAA Consumer Group. The state of Illinois has seen its average fall slightly, but still remains above the national average at $ 4,463 per gallon. In addition to the West Coast, Illinois has some of the highest gas prices nationwide since Thursday, according to AAA data. In Chicago, the average price of a gallon of gas is $ 4,843, about two cents lower than the record high of $ 4,868 set on Monday. Chicago City currently charges $ 0.08 per gallon of fuel tax. Cook County also has a tax of $ 0.06 per gallon of fuel, and the state of Illinois has a tax of $ 0.39 per gallon.