The 'L' train has survived calls to be disbanded and a tumultuous century and a quarter to become a, sometimes unreliable, city icon.
The 1890s were a time of growth for Chicago and, when the city opened its above ground rail line, it was popular immediately. "The wooden train, run by the private Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad Co. along what is now the Green Line," Mary Wisniewski writes for the Chicago Tribune. "The 'L' also promoted democracy, since it forced people from different income levels, races and ethnic groups to sit together," Greg Brozo, author of The Chicago 'L' told Wisniewski, a claim transit boosters still make today.
Chicago was seeing skyscrapers built along the transit route so it's only fitting that Chicago's train should be elevated, too, Brozo commented.
FULL STORY: Chicago's elevated train system started 125 years ago
Chicago Secures Funding for Southside L Extension
The city was awarded almost $2 billion to build four new stations in Southside neighborhoods long underserved by transit.
Chicago Rail Extension Gains New Federal Funding
The Biden administration has committed over $700 million to the massive project which will bring rail to the Far South Side of the city.
Chicago Trains Make More Room for Bikes
Since Metro launched a new bike-friendly policy in February, the number of bikes on its trains rose by 70 percent.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
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HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
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Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
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San Francisco Turns On California’s First Speed Cameras
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Shaping LA’s Future: Public Voting Opens for LA2050 Grants
The LA2050 Grants Challenge invites Angelenos to vote on the top issues facing Los Angeles, helping direct $3 million in funding to organizations working to build a more connected and resilient region.
Chicago Transit Agencies on Brink of Major Crisis
Without additional funding, regional transit agencies will be forced to cut services by 40 percent.
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