CTA (Chicago Transit Authority)
567 W Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 664-7200
After reading all the negative-Nancy reviews on the CTA, I’m going to say it once: Chicagoans, you have arguably the second best rail system in the country. Stop complaining.
I’ve heard the negative stories - it breaks down a lot, there are always delays, the service isn’t that good, some don’t come for a long time, and then three show up and they’re all packed. I’ve even heard that one time, the El train even flipped over.
These are criticisms of every public transportation system in the country. (Everything except the flipping over part. I give that one a big WTF?!)
The El provides amazing scenery (since it’s elevated), solidifies the Loop as an employment and entertainment center, runs on a frequent schedule (I personally haven’t had to wait more then 3 minutes for a train), and is an experience to be on (I love it when you whiz past people’s balconies, windows, and it scares the bejeezus out of me when it looks like we’re about to crash into the corner of a building.) And it’s two bucks per ride, which is on par with the rest of the country for rail service.
I’ll take away one star, because so many negative reviews can’t be wrong, but still. Every city in this country, save New York (and perhaps Boston) does not have this comprehensive of a system in their urban core. Y’all are hella lucky.
