The public transit system helps the Chicago Tri-State metro-region rank high on attractiveness indexes, but underfunding for maintenance and expansion risks squandering this asset, losing with it the opportunity to fight congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and provide jobs. Congestion charges and on roadways and value-capture taxes should be considered as part of a comprehensive financing package. Water and waste service delivery is costly and does not sufficiently take into account environmental impacts, which calls for a restructuring of rates to incentivise conservation and recycling. Skill shortages are evident across the regional economy, and particularly in the green sector.