Chicago ''L''.org: System Maps - Route Maps (2024)

Chicago Elevated Railways

1913

• Cover (168k)
• System Map (276k)

Issued to announce universal transfers, which took effect November 3, 1913

J.P. Shealy Street Guide

1925

• Cover (68k)
• System Map (336k)

Map of the Chicago Rapid Transit and North Shore Line systems.

Map shows the Niles Center (Skokie) branch under construction.

Chicago Rapid Transit

1933

• Cover (1.1MB)
• Front/System Map (4.6MB)
• Back/Service Information (5.4MB)

Titled "Travel Map and Guide to Chicago's Attractions", this map edition was also published to coincide with the Century of Progress fair, and included not only information about how to get to the fair but information about points of interest and sightseeing by the "L".

Chicago Surface Lines

1935

• Cover (270k)
• Front/System Map (3MB)
• Back/Transfer Information (4.1MB)

Map published by the Chicago Surface Lines company to explain the details of "L"-CSL transfers that were implemented by order of the Illinois Commerce Commission effective September 22, 1935. The map shows both the CSL and "L" systems, but only depicts the "L" stations where transfers can be made. The back includes extensive information about how transfers are issues and used.

Chicago Rapid Transit

1936

• Cover (376k)
• Front/System Map (4.7MB)
• Back/Transfer Information (5.2MB)

Map published to coincide with the inauguration of transfers between the "L" and the Chicago Motor Coach Company for an experimental period of one year beginning January 19, 1936, in addition to the transfers with CSL initiated in 1935. The map shows the "L", CSL and CMC systems, and denotes transfer stations. The back lists each transfer station and what CSL and CMC services it connects with, along with other details of how the transfers worked.

Chicago Rapid Transit

1938

• Cover (196k)
• System Map (640k)

None

Chicago Rapid Transit

1942

• Cover (56k)
• System Map - North Side (708k)
• System Map - South Side (616k)
• Loop Map (412k)
• Pamphlet Detail - Travel Times (72k)
• Pamphlet Detail - Transfer Info (64k)

Map has several war bonds advertisem*nts.

Chicago Rapid Transit

1943

• Cover (390k)
• Front/System Map (945k)
• Back/Service Information and Facts About Subway (5.5MB)

Shows a detailed map of the newly-opened State Street Subway in an expanded downtown inset that includes the Near North and Near South Sides. Back includes facts promoting newly opened subway.

Rand McNally Street Guide

1944

• Cover (92k)
• System Map (468k)
• Information page 1 (432k)
• Information page 2 (180k)

Includes detailed information on how to ride the elevated, including route descriptions, stopping patterns, and hours of operation. Map shows the newly-opened State Street Subway.

Chicago Transit Authority

1948

• Cover (290k)
• CTA System Map (4.4MB)
• Back side of map (5.1MB)

First map issued by the CTA; was largely a reprint of the last CRT map with minor changes.

Chicago Transit Authority

1954

• Cover (40k)
• CTA System Map (1.7MB) [Low resolution (420k)]

None

Chicago Transit Authority

1957

• Cover (56k)
• CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (280k)]

None

Chicago Transit Authority

January 1965

• Cover (84k)
• "L" System Map (112k)

Skokie Swift: "The Commuter's Friend" was the fourth in a series of progress reports published on the Skokie Swift demonstration project. Map shows the Skokie Swift's relation to the rest of the "L"^TM system.

Chicago Transit Authority

1965

• Cover (52k)
• CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (216k)]

None

Chicago Transit Authority

October 1970

• Cover (60k)
• CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (328k)]
• "L" System Map (192k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (268k)

Includes newly-opened Dan Ryan and Kennedy routes. CTA^® system map adopted one- and two-letter abbreviations for routes (i.e. "JH" for Jackson Park-Howard), though it would prove to be short-lived. Note ad for the #40 O'Harexpress bus extension route from Jefferson Park to the airport.

Chicago Transit Authority

May 1975

• Cover (72k)
• CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (336k)]
• "L" System Map (176k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (268k)

"L"^TM system map adopted one- and two-letter abbreviations for routes.

Chicago Transit Authority

Winter-Spring 1981

• Cover (56k)
• CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (336k)]
• Downtown Detail (264k)

None

Chicago Transit Authority

1985

• Cover (60k)
• CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (256k)]
• Downtown Detail (228k)

Map includes the new O'Hare extension and was the first to color-code the lines (although color names for the lines would not be adopted until 1993). "A" and "B" stations are no longer represented be triangles and squares; all stops are represented by circles.

Chicago Transit Authority

March 1991

• Cover (76k)
• CTA System Map (includes downtown inset, route information, and more) (2.3MB) [Low resolution (376k)]
• Pamphlet Detail: Accessible Services (100k)

First map issued after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, outlining CTA's^® accessible services on the rail and bus systems (see detail above).

Chicago Transit Authority

July 1995

• Cover (80k)
• CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (224k)]
• Downtown Detail (268k)
• "L" System Map (188k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (408k)

Green Line appears on the map only as a dashed line, as it is closed for renovation.

Chicago Transit Authority

January 1997

• Cover (72k)
• CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (224k)]
• Downtown Detail (296k)
• "L" System Map (176k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, Service Changes, etc. (272k)

None

Chicago Transit Authority

Spring-Summer (March) 1999

• Cover (84k)
• CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (252k)]
• Downtown Detail (364k)
• "L" System Map (180k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (248k)

None

Regional Transportation Authority

2000

• Cover (171k)
• Six-County Regional System Map (1.4MB) [Low resolution (323k)]
• Chicago System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (331k)]
• Chicago Downtown Detail (636k)

None

Chicago Transit Authority

Summer (May) 2001

• Cover (64k)
• CTA System Map (1.1MB) [Low resolution (156k)]
• Downtown Detail (448k)
• "L" System Map (300k)

None

Chicago Transit Authority

Fall (September) 2003

• Cover (111k)
• CTA System Map (2.1MB) [Low resolution (137k)]
• Downtown Detail (691k)
• "L" System Map (250k)
• Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (636k)

Includes revised lakefront express bus routes, revised Evanston bus routes, and the first new, accessible Douglas stations (54/Cermak and Kostner)