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The extension of the Lake Street “L” from Market Street (now Wacker Drive) to Wabash brought riders to the heart of downtown for the first time. It also led the way to the development of the “Union Loop” by traction mogul Charles Yerkes, whose business philosophy summed up his ethics: “Buy up old junk, fix it up a little and unload it upon other fellows.”
Average wait for a train during rush hour: 5 minutes. Average wait in 1897: 15 seconds.
Base fare in 2001: $1.50. Base fare in 1901: 5 cents.
Exclusive use of Car 756 of the Metropolitan West Side “L” from 1907 to 1922: Funerals.
Best Chicago public transit joke: “Does this bus go to da Loop?” “No, it goes ‘a-ooga.’ “
