Transportation

The Grid Plan

Chicago follows the great American grid plan, with major streets following section lines every one mile. This plan was developed by the Federal Government in 1786.


Abraham Lincoln was a surveyor in Illinois. His equipment.

Plank Roads






toll roads

heavy stringers 

on each side  

16-foot roadway 

across them were laid (but not spiked) heavy planks of pine and hemlock, oak or walnut. 

$2000 per mile

Very profitable at first.  

Toll gates at intervals of 5 or 6 miles






RAILROADS


Chicago handles 1/2 the nations rail freight.

First railroad in 1848










Horse Drawn Street Cars




The first streetcars 1859

The original streetcars were 12 feet long


held 18 passengers, and operated at 3 mph. 


Chicago Cable Cars


 The system was in operation from 1882 until 1906



Chicago " L" Elevated Rapid Transit


The 'L' (sometimes written as "L", El, EL,

or L), short for "elevated started in 1892  









Interstate Highways






Airports

Midway Airport




retained the title until O'Hare claimed it in 1961.




Meigs Field



Opened 1946  Closed 2003






South Suburban Airport - Third Airport For Chicago