Whether you are a local in Chicago or a visitor who is planning to be in the city for a period of time, you will have experience no difficulty when it comes to getting around. This is because of the Chicago public transportation system that provides ample modes of transportation for everyone’s ease in commuting. So, no matter where you are going in the city, whether you are off to work or off to take in some tourist sights, you will have no problem in getting a bus or a train that is part of the mass transit in Chicago. You can avail car rental service also to roam around the city.
Public transportation in Chicago is provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, commonly known as CTA. Having been established through legislation made by the state, CTA is a governmental agency operating independently that was started way back in October 1, 1947. This is after it took hold of the Chicago Surface Lines and Chicago Rapid Transit properties. In October 1952, CTA bought the Chicago Motor Coach system, which made it the lone operator of the system of mass transit in Chicago.
Serving Chicago City and the 40 suburbs that surround it, CTA is regarded to be operating the second biggest system of public transportation in the US. As the only provider of Chicago public transportation, CTA averages some 1.6 million rides on a weekday. This is made possible by the estimated 2,000 buses that ply the 2,273 route miles and the more than 154 routes in the city and its surrounding areas. These buses have been noted to contribute greatly to system of mass transit in Chicago with their provision of some 1 million trips for passengers’ everyday and their service to over 12,000 stops that have been posted for buses.
As part of the system of public transportation in Chicago, CTA also has 1,190 rapid transit cars that server more than eight routes and operate on 222 miles of track. These CTA trains give out some 500,000 trips every day to its customers and provide service 144 stations as well. The Chicago public transportation system also extends its rail service to two of the city’s major airports. In fact, the city is one of the only few cities worldwide that is doing this.
The Blue Line “L” rail service of CTA provides Chicago public transportation to customers heading to the O’Hare International Airport. Meanwhile, the Orange Line rail service, which runs clockwise of the “L” structure of CTA’s Loop, goes to the Midway Airport. If you are traveling from Midway to O’Hare, then you can change trains at the Clark-Lake station without having to pay extra charge. So, as you can see, every effort has been made by CTA to make the system of public transportation in Chicago very convenient for everyone