Transportation in Chicago

The "Gershwin Tunnel" at O'Hare Airport between concourses
B and C in Terminal 1, operated by United Airlines.

Chicago, Illinois, is a transportation hub with the building of two major airports. Chicago is expanding O'Hare Airport. A new airport has been proposed for Peotone, and the city is working toward expanding its ties with the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana.

Mass Transit in much of the Chicago metropolitan area is managed through the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which was installed by referendum in 1974. The RTA provides transportation services through the funding of three subordinate agencies, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace.

Roads and freeways

Main article: Roads and freeways in Chicago

Airports

Aerial view of Chicago Midway International Airport

O'Hare International Airport, which is the second busiest airport in the world by one measure, is a major airport serving numerous domestic and international destinations. It is a hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. Construction is underway for a major expansion.

Chicago Midway International Airport serves primarily domestic destinations. It is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, as well as a focus city for AirTran Airways.

There are several minor airports in the Chicago area with either limited or proposed commercial service. These include:

Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana, located about 25 miles from the Chicago loop. Gary/Chicago is operating as the "third airport" for the Chicago area. While Gary/Chicago Int. Airport's current operations include no scheduled commercial passenger service, it is currently undergoing facility improvements, and the administration is courting airlines aggressively. Boeing and White Lodging Services already base their corporate fleets here. The National Guard has constructed facilities to base their Chicago metropolitan area air operation here as well.

Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, supports scheduled airline service to Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando-Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater. Rockford officials are positioning the airport to attract customers from Chicago's western suburbs. More information is available at http://www.flyrfd.com

Name IATA Airport Code ICAO Airport Code Location

Clow International Airport 1C5 K1C5 Bolingbrook, Illinois

DuPage Airport DPA KDPA West Chicago, Illinois

Gary/Chicago International Airport GYY KGYY Gary, Indiana

Chicago Midway International Airport MDW KMDW Chicago

O'Hare International Airport ORD KORD Chicago

Chicago Executive Airport (formerly Palwaukee) PWK KPWK Wheeling, Illinois

Schaumburg Regional Airport 06C (none) Schaumburg, Illinois

Waukegan Regional Airport UGN KUGN Waukegan, Illinois

Lewis University Airport LOT KLOT Romeoville, Illinois

Aurora Municipal Airport AUZ KARR Sugar Grove, Illinois

The CTA Blue Line

Proposed airports

There have been two airports proposed to be built from scratch in the last twenty years:

Calumet Airport was to have been built in what is now Lake Calumet on the South Side of Chicago as a replacement for O'Hare. Plans were shelved in favor of a plan for expanding O'Hare.

A Proposed Chicago south suburban airport has been proposed as a regional airport in far-south-suburban Peotone, Illinois.

Transit systems

The Chicago Transit Authority or CTA, operates the second largest public transportation system in the United States (to New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and covers the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs. The CTA operates 24 hours a day and, on an average weekday, 1.6 million rides are taken on the CTA.

A westbound 'L' train crosses the south fork of the Chicago River

CTA has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes and 2,273 route miles (3,658 km). Buses provide about 1 million passenger trips a day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. CTA's 1,190 rapid transit cars operate eight routes and 222 miles (357 km) of track. CTA trains provide about 650,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Rosemont, Forest Park, Oak Park and Cicero. The rapid transit system is known as the "Chicago 'L'" or variations of 'L,' "El," or "el" to Chicagoans.

Chicago is one of the few cities in the United States that provides rapid transit service to two major airports. From the downtown area the CTA's Blue Line takes riders to O'Hare International Airport in about 40 minutes and the Orange Line takes customers to Chicago Midway International Airport in about 30 minutes from the Loop.

[edit]Suburban bus transit

Pace operates a primarily-suburban bus service that also offers some routes into Chicago.

RTA

The RTA offers a trip planner on its web site that provides information for public transit in Chicago and surrounding areas. It is multi-modal, combining schedule information for buses, trains, and commuter rail. Riders enter their intended origin and destination, along with optional time, date, and other information, and the trip planner displays itineraries showing the stops, departure and arrival times, and times to get from the origin to the destination. Additionally, public transit directions for the Chicago metropolitan area are available from Google Maps.

Commuter rail

Metra train at Ogilvie Transportation Center

The Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, under its trademark Metra, operates eleven commuter rail lines that serve 200+ stations across the RTA's six-county service area. Unlike the 'L' lines, fare pricing is based on zones instead of a flat boarding fee. In addition, being mainly commuter rail service, frequent service is generally only provided during rush hours, although Metra is known for its speed and reliability. The eleven lines (while there are eleven, the Metra Electric line has three different branches) connect into one of four different downtown stations: Union Pacific North, West, and Northwest arrive in the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center (known more casually as the "Northwestern Station"); Milwaukee District North and West, North Central Service, Southwest Service, Burlington Northern, and Heritage Corridor converge in Union Station (along with being the nexus of Amtrak); the Rock Island Line arrives in the LaSalle Street Station; and the Metra Electric arrives in Millennium Station (formerly Randolph Street Terminal).

The Metra Electric Line is Chicago's oldest continuing commuter train (1856), and shares the railway with the South Shore Line, operated by the Northwest Indiana Commuter Transit District ("NICTD"), which is a separate but analogous quasi-governmental entity from the RTA. The South Shore Line is an interurban railroad that operates between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. Like the Metra Electric Line, it arrives and departs from Millennium Station.

See also: Rail stations of Chicago

Tourist trolleys

The City of Chicago offered free tourist trolleys that served the downtown area. The "trolleys" were actually buses painted to look like historical streetcars. They ran every 20 to 30 minutes and served areas popular with tourists that didn't have 'L' stations, such as the Museum Campus, Navy Pier, and the Magnificent Mile. The Free Trolley service was permanently discontinued in 2009.

The free trolleys shouldn't be confused with the private-sector Chicago Trolley Company, which offers guided tours and charge fares. They serve different routes but largely the same downtown area. Their vehicles are also buses rather than real trolleys.

Passenger rail

Amtrak owns and operates Union Station which is a major intercity passenger rail hub with connections to Metra and the L.

Taxis

Chicago is mandating that its entire fleet of taxicabs go green by January 1, 2014.

Boats

Water taxi in Chicago

Shoreline Sightseeing offers water taxi service along the Chicago River with stops at Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue and Adams Street. They offer a separate route from Navy Pier to The Museum Campus. Shoreline Sightseeing also offers architecture cruises departing from Navy Pier.

Wendella Boats operates the Chicago Water Taxi which offers service along the Chicago River with stops at Michigan Avenue, Clark Street and Madison Street. On weekends, Chicago Water Taxi service extends to Ping Tom Park in Chinatown. Wendella Boats also offers architecture cruises departing from Michigan Avenue.

Bicycling

Bicycling in Chicago

Monument of Thomas Jefferson in front of the Jefferson Park Transit Center

City of Chicago bus stop, served by CTA buses, with 3D ad

Bicycles are permitted on CTA buses during all operating hours, and on CTA trains every weekday except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.(during rush hour) On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, bicycles are allowed on trains all day. If you board the train with your bicycle before the hours listed above and your trip extends into those hours, the CTA allows you to finish your trip. If trains are crowded, the use of trains by cyclists may be restricted by the rail operator as appropriate. Bicycles are not permitted on trains July 3 due to Independence Day celebrations. Folding bikes may be brought aboard CTA trains and buses during all operating periods, including rush hour.

A maximum of two bicycles are allowed per train car. For example, if the train is four cars in length, a total of eight bicycles are allowed on that train.

Transit operators have the discretion to deny access to anyone with a bike if they decide that conditions are too crowded. The CTA's entire bus fleet is now equipped with bike racks in front which can accommodate two bicycles. All CTA trains accept bicycles, although bikes are discouraged on the 2200-series rail cars with "blinker doors" (if they were turned sideways, they would look like a blinking eye when opening and closing). Only standard-size bicycles are allowed on all CTA vehicles; tandems are not allowed.

(source:wikipedia)

77 West Wacker Drive

77 West Wacker Drive

77 West Wacker Drive, also known as the United Building, is an office building in the Loop, Chicago. Finished in 1992, the building rises to a height of 668 ft (204 m) with around 944,000 square feet (87,700 m2) of interior space. The building, with 51 floors, was designed by Ricardo Bofill. It was formerly known as the RR Donnelley Building when the RR Donnelley printing company was the primary tenant. RR Donnelley moved its corporate headquarters to a different location in May 2005, and in 2007 the building became the corporate headquarters of United Airlines.

This is the World Headquarters of Chicago-based United Airlines and its parent company United Continental Holdings. The deal included naming rights to the building.Microsoft is a major tenant in the building, occupying multiple floors.

The building has a newsletter called "FOCUS," published by Prime Group Realty Trust.

History

By 1990, Keck, Mahin & Cate, a law firm, considered moving out of its space in the Sears Tower and moving into a potential new development, which would become 77 West Wacker Drive. Brokers who were familiar with the lease negotiations stated that Sears was trying to keep Keck, Mahin & Cate in the building. Keck, Mahin & Cate decided to move into 77 West Wacker, and the Prime Group, developer of 77 West Wacker, finalized the development of the facility. In 1991 RR Donnelley leased 215,000 square feet (20,000 m2) on floors 9 through 19 for its world headquarters, and Kemper Securities leased 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2). With the lease deals concluded, 77 West Wacker had 86% of its tenant space occupied. Jerry C. Davis of the Chicago Sun-Times said that the remaining space would be too small for some prospective tenants. Davis added that the leases to RR Donnelley and Kemper significantly altered "the complexion of the downtown office market."

In 2004 RR Donnelley signed a letter of intent to move out of 77 West Wacker. During the same year McGuireWoods extended its lease by 8 years, changing the end date from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2018. In addition McGuireWoods expanded its leased space, effective February 1, 2004. The company gained an extra 65,756 square feet (6,108.9 m2) of space in addition to its existing 67,819 square feet (6,300.6 m2). As a result of the lease expansion of McGuireWoods, as of February 2004 77 West Wacker was 92.2% leased. In 2004 the lease of the firm Jones Day of 138,764 square feet (12,891.6 m2) in 77 West Wacker was extended by 15 years, with the end date changed from September 30, 2007 to September 30, 2022. In 2006 Microsoft extended the term of its lease and expanded its leased space to 12,391 square feet (1,151.2 m2), with a total of 47,122 square feet (4,377.8 m2) occupied by Microsoft. During the same year Greenberg Traurig agreed to expand its lease by 22,565 square feet (2,096.4 m2), giving it a total of 100,975 square feet (9,380.9 m2).

In 2006 United Airlines agreed to move its 350 executives and top staff members from its Elk Grove Township campus to 77 West Wacker.

Building design

77 West Wacker is shown in context between the Leo Burnett Building
and the partially constructed Waterview Tower.

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Steve Baron, president of Prime Group Realty, said in 1990 that 77 West Wacker had "very compact floors with virtually no columns." Therefore tenant companies would not pay for space that they would be unable to use.

To enhance its panoramic view over the city, the building’s skin is predominantly glazed. The facade, of classical proportions, comprises glass surfaces framed in Portuguese white granite, with the dividers between the different floors linked by columns. The top floor is shaped like a temple. The ground floor houses an 18 m high atrium in gray and white marble.

At night, 540 lamps light the building and its surroundings, along with a United sign that was added to the building in 2008.

The interior is similarly styled. The classical Greek style is repeated inside, with Thassos marble walls and a 40 ft (12 m) tall coffered ceiling made of white oak wood.

A sculpture by Xavier Corbero called “Three Lawyers and A Judge” graces the building, as does Antoni Tapies' artwork called “Big Eyelids.” Bofill further contributed by creating a sculpture entitled “Twisted Columns” which appears to float above a reflecting pool.

Transportation

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus lines serving the building include 29, 62, 124, 145, 146 and 151. The closest CTA stations, the Clark and Lake Station and the State and Lake Station, have the Brown, Blue, Green, Orange, and Purple lines. The Metra Electric Line is the closest Metra line.

Position in skyline

(source:wikipedia)