Chicago Transit Authority marks 70th anniversary

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) yesterday marked its 70th anniversary.

The agency was created by the Illinois Legislature to consolidate several privately owned companies that operated transit lines in the Chicago area. Before the CTA was created, those struggling companies competed with each other for riders, according to an announcement on the agency's website.

CTA took over operations from the Chicago Rapid Transit Co. — which ran the "L" rail system" — and the Chicago Surface Lines, which ran a streetcar system and some bus lines. The agency later acquired the Chicago Motor Coach Co., which operated a number of bus lines in the city.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the CTA yesterday provided rides on 4000-series rail cars from 1923, as well as 2400-series units from 1976.

In June, the CTA in June marked the 125th anniversary of the L train system.