The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates over a thousand rail cars on 200 plus miles of track (CTA Facts at a Glance). The CTA refers to its rapid transit system using a simple one-letter name, 'L'; and it is always capitalized.
The “El” Does Not Operate in Chicago
Although a simple word, 'L' is often misspelled. The tragedy is that 'L' is misspelled not only by New Yorkers, who have flattened Chicago's ideal pizza; it is also misspelled by respected authors. “An afternoon can be like a day to me; an El ride can be an epic journey” can be found in Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Travelers Wife. A penetrating critique by Beth Anderie spells out the lure of this well read novel.
Shouldn't the CTA Decide How To Spell 'L'?
The final arbitrator of how to spell 'L' must be the Chicago Transit Authority. After all, doesn't a company have the right to decide how to spell their own brands? “CTA's Blue Line 'L' can take customers to O'Hare International Airport” (CTA Facts at a Glance). There you have it; it's 'L'. Other cities may have an 'El'; Chicago has the 'L'.
'El' and Thin Crust Pizza
The following example illustrates how Chicago's rapid transit system is spelled and misspelled. The rapid transit system is mentioned in several reviews of the canceled TV series, Chicago Code. In these reviews, The New Yorker uses 'El', while the Chicago Tribune uses 'L'. Does this remind anyone about the thin-crust, thick-crust controversy between these two cities?
The L's History
The 'L' has been around for a long time. The first revenue passenger service began on June 6 1892, for the South Side Rapid Transit, which would later be absorbed into the CTA (South Side Elevated). Construction on the Chicago subways was begun in 1938, with federal funding from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration (Unification: Enter the CER, CRT and Subway). Between 1943 and 1947, ownership of the 'L' was transferred from a number of private companies to the publicly funded Chicago Transit Authority ( The CTA Takes Over: New Lines Come but Passengers Go).
CTA Passes
Today, the CTA offers 1, 3, and 7 day passes, which can be purchased online. The passes are activated by their first use and they offer unlimited rides on all CTA buses and trains, for the allotted period. Although purchased online, the passes take 10 days to arrive in the mail. I used a one-day pass, on a recent trip to Chicago. I stayed in one of the northern suburbs and used the 'L' to get to the Loop, Millennium Park and the Art Institute. The CTA no longer offers transfers, so a pass is the only practical way to navigate the system.
Sources
- CTA Facts at a GlanceChicago Transit Authority, April 2011
- Audrey Niffenegger The Time Travelers Wife, A Harvest Book; Harcourt Inc 2003 see page 117
- Beth Anderle, The Time Traveler's - Audrey Niffenegger, Suite101.com, Nov 2009.
- Nancy Franklin, Cops and Cons; On Television, The New Yorker, 87, Mar 21, 2011.
- Nina Metz, Steve Johnson, 'Chicago Code' is gone, leaving hole in the city; City film industry points to positives, Chicago Tribune, May 12, 2011
- Anonymous, South Side Elevated (1881947), Chicago "L".org
- Anonymous, Unification: Enter the CCRT and Subway, Chicago "L".org
- Anonymous, The CTA Takes Over: New s Come But Passengers Go, Chicago "L".org
- Judith Zwolak, Chicago With Kids, Suite101.com, May 2008.
Richard Walloch - Don't believe me because of my education or professional experience. Believe me because of the evidence and arguments I advance.
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