Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sky Train: Chicago's El
Fun Fact
Watch any Hollywood film or TV series set in Chicago, and chances are
they'll feature at least one scene set against our screeching elevated
train system, more commonly known as the “El” (witness The Fugitive,
ER, and others). The trains symbolize Chicago's gritty, “city-that-works”
attitude, but they actually began as a cutting-edge technology.
After the Great Fire of 1871, Chicago made a remarkable recovery;
within 20 years, the downtown district was swarming with people,
streetcars, and horses (but no stoplights). To help relieve congestion,
the city took to the sky, building a system of elevated trains 15 feet
above all the madness. The first El trains were steam-powered, but by
the end of the century all the lines—run by separate companies—used
electricity. In 1895, the three El companies collaborated to build a set
of tracks into and around the central business district that all the lines
would then share. By 1897, the “Loop” was up and running.
Chicago's El wasn't the nation's first. That honor belongs to New
York City, which started running its elevated trains in 1867, 25 years
before Chicago. But the New York El has almost disappeared, moving
underground and turning into a subway early last century. With 289
miles of track, Chicago has the biggest El in the country, and the sec-
ond-largest public transportation system.
Van Buren Street Station at Van Buren Street and Michigan Avenue (both these
stations are underground, so they're not immediately obvious to visitors).
Commuter trains have graduated fare schedules based on the distance you
ride. On weekends and holidays and during the summer, Metra offers a family
discount that allows up to three children under age 12 to ride free when accom-
panying a paid adult. The commuter railroad also offers a $5 weekend pass for
unlimited rides on Saturday and Sunday.
BY TAXI
Taxis are a convenient way to get around the Loop and to get to the dining,
shopping, and entertainment options found beyond downtown, such as on the
Near North Side, in Old Town and Lincoln Park, and on the Near West Side.
Taxis are easy to hail in the Loop, on the Magnificent Mile and the Gold
Coast, in River North, and in Lincoln Park, but if you go much beyond these
key areas, you might need to call. Cab companies include Flash Cab ( & 773/
561-1444 ), Yellow Cab ( &
312/TAXI-CAB ), and Checker Cab ( &
312/
CHECKER ).
The meter in Chicago cabs currently starts at $1.90 for the first mile and
$1.60 for each additional mile, with a 50¢ surcharge for each additional rider
ages 12 to 65.
BY CAR
Chicago is laid out so logically that it's relatively easy for visitors to get around
the city by car. Although rush-hour traffic jams are just as frustrating as they are
in other large U.S. cities, traffic runs fairly smoothly at most times of the day.
But Chicagoans have learned to be prepared for unexpected delays; it seems that
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