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79-747: Surface transportation networks and public ways within the city are the responsibility of the Chicago Department of Transportation . Mass transit in much of the Chicago metropolitan area is managed through the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which was installed by a referendum in 1974. The RTA provides transportation services through the funding of three subordinate agencies: the Chicago Transit Authority , Metra , and Pace . Operation of

158-671: A Public Private Partnership wherein Adani Group , the operator pays Airports Authority of India , the owner of the airports, a predetermined sum of money based on the number of passengers handled by the airports. The rest of India's airports are managed by the Airports Authority of India . In Pakistan nearly all civilian airports are owned and operated by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority except for Sialkot International Airport which has

237-520: A landing area , which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off and to land or a helipad , and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers , hangars and terminals , to maintain and monitor aircraft. Larger airports may have airport aprons , taxiway bridges , air traffic control centres, passenger facilities such as restaurants and lounges , and emergency services . In some countries,

316-469: A base typically includes a stretch of open water for takeoffs and landings , and seaplane docks for tying-up. An international airport has additional facilities for customs and passport control as well as incorporating all the aforementioned elements. Such airports rank among the most complex and largest of all built typologies, with 15 of the top 50 buildings by floor area being airport terminals. Smaller or less-developed airfields, which represent

395-557: A curbside bus stop at Union Station, on Canal Street north of Jackson Boulevard, and connects Chicago with Rockford and Madison. Several bus companies catering to Hispanic passengers connect Chicago with points in Texas, and with connections throughout Mexico. These companies include El Expreso Bus Company , Omnibus Express , Los Paisanos Autobuses , Tornado Bus Company , Turimex Internacional , Price 4 Limo ., National Charter Bus , Chicago Charter Bus Company and GOGO Charters . Metra

474-498: A day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. The city's rapid transit system, known as the " Chicago 'L' " or variations of 'L', "El", or "el" to Chicagoans, operates 1,190 rapid transit cars along eight routes and 222 miles (357 km) of track. CTA trains provide about 745,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations in Chicago, Evanston , Skokie , Wilmette , Rosemont , Forest Park , Oak Park , and Cicero . Chicago

553-490: A lack of immediate response to the issue, Mayor Richard M. Daley requested Acting Commissioner John N. LaPlante for a letter of resignation after the tunnel was patched and the flood contained. Upon LaPlante's resignation, Gery J. Chico , Mayor Daley's Deputy Chief of Staff, took control of the Department of Transportation eventually handing the reins to a newly appointed Commissioner, Joseph Boyle. In October 2005,

632-528: A mistake in handling of the passenger, such as unreasonable delays or mishandling of checked baggage. Airline lounges frequently offer free or reduced cost food, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Lounges themselves typically have seating , showers, quiet areas, televisions, computer, Wi-Fi and Internet access, and power outlets that passengers may use for their electronic equipment. Some airline lounges employ baristas, bartenders and gourmet chefs. Airlines sometimes operate multiple lounges within

711-557: A number of regulations and safety measures have been implemented in airports, in order to reduce hazards. Additionally, airports have major local environmental impacts, as both large sources of air pollution , noise pollution and other environmental impacts, making them sites that acutely experience the environmental effects of aviation . Airports are also vulnerable infrastructure to extreme weather , climate change caused sea level rise and other disasters. The terms aerodrome , airfield , and airstrip also refer to airports, and

790-490: A plane of 100,000 pounds and the price increases with weight. Non-aeronautical revenue is gained through things other than aircraft operations. It includes lease revenue from compatible land-use development, non-aeronautical building leases, retail and concession sales, rental car operations, parking and in-airport advertising. Concession revenue is one big part of non-aeronautical revenue airports makes through duty free , bookstores, restaurants and money exchange. Car parking

869-460: A retail store upon exiting security. Airport planners sometimes incorporate winding routes within these stores such that passengers encounter more goods as they walk towards their gate. Planners also install artworks next to the airport's shops in order to draw passengers into the stores. Apart from major fast food chains, some airport restaurants offer regional cuisine specialties for those in transit so that they may sample local food without leaving

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948-409: A series of gates , which provide passengers with access to the plane. Passenger facilities typically include: Links between passenger facilities and aircraft include jet bridges or airstairs . Baggage handling systems transport baggage from the baggage drop-off to departing planes, and from arriving planes to the baggage reclaim. The area where the aircraft parks to load passengers and baggage

1027-458: A subsidiary of Coach USA, departs from a curbside bus stop near Union Station, on Canal Street south of Jackson Boulevard, and connects Chicago with Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Cleveland, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, St. Louis, Memphis, Kansas City, intermediate points, and connecting with other points beyond. Van Galder Bus Company , another subsidiary of Coach USA, departs from

1106-619: A suburban town (e.g., Wilmette Wilbus ) or a private company. Suburban operators ran into the same funding problems as those operating inside Chicago and evoked a similar response from area governments. Pace is the regional public sector response to keep local and regional bus service available in the Chicago metro area. With its vast service area, Pace had a weekday daily ridership of 1,195,308 in November 2023. Several intercity bus companies offer service to other cities in Illinois and across

1185-464: Is 6.3 miles (10.1 km), while 28.% travel over 7.5 miles (12.1 km) in a single direction. Chicago taxicabs are privately operated under a medallion license from the city. Chicago taxi regulations were revamped in a 2012 reform package backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel ; the package raised the "flag pull" initial hire charge by $ 1, mandated credit card readers and GPS, and placed new limits on fleet age. City and private initiatives have increased

1264-480: Is Chicago's commuter railroad, with eleven lines that serve 200+ stations across Cook County and the five collar counties . Unlike the 'L' lines, fare pricing is based on zones instead of a flat boarding fee. In addition, being mainly commuter rail service, frequent service is generally only provided during rush hours, although Metra is known for its speed and reliability. There are eleven lines, three of which also have service along additional branch lines: in addition to

1343-433: Is a growing source of revenue for airports, as more people use the parking facilities of the airport. O'Hare International Airport in Chicago charges $ 2 per hour for every car. Many airports are local monopolies. To prevent them from abusing their market power, governments regulate how much airports may charge to airlines, using price-cap regulation . Airports are divided into landside and airside zones. The landside

1422-412: Is a legal term of art reserved exclusively for those aerodromes certified or licensed as airports by the relevant civil aviation authority after meeting specified certification criteria or regulatory requirements. That is to say, all airports are aerodromes, but not all aerodromes are airports. In jurisdictions where there is no legal distinction between aerodrome and airport , which term to use in

1501-623: Is a proposed high speed rapid transit line connecting the Loop to O'Hare airport. The City of Chicago offered free tourist trolleys that served the downtown area. The "trolleys" were actually buses painted to look like historical streetcars. They ran every 20 to 30 minutes and served areas popular with tourists that did not have 'L' stations, such as the Museum Campus , Navy Pier , and the Magnificent Mile . The Free Trolley service

1580-587: Is a separate but analogous quasi-governmental entity, partially funded by the RTA. The South Shore Line is an interurban railroad that operates between Chicago and South Bend , Indiana . Like the Metra Electric District, it arrives and departs from Millennium Station. Amtrak owns and operates Union Station , the fourth-largest intercity passenger hub in the United States. The station is

1659-486: Is a series of highly complex operations that requires managing frequent traffic that moves in all three dimensions. A "towered" or "controlled" airport has a control tower where the air traffic controllers are based. Pilots are required to maintain two-way radio communication with the controllers, and to acknowledge and comply with their instructions. A " non-towered " airport has no operating control tower and therefore two-way radio communications are not required, though it

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1738-598: Is also common to connect an airport and a city with rapid transit , light rail lines or other non-road public transport systems. Some examples of this would include the AirTrain JFK at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York , Link light rail that runs from the heart of downtown Seattle to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , and the Silver Line T at Boston 's Logan International Airport by

1817-867: Is also the nexus of Amtrak ); the Rock Island District arrives in the LaSalle Street Station ; and the Metra Electric District arrives in Millennium Station (formerly Randolph Street Terminal). The Metra Electric District is Chicago's oldest continuing commuter train (1856), and shares the railway with the South Shore Line , operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District (NICTD), which

1896-522: Is an executive department of the City of Chicago responsible for the safety, environmental sustainability, maintenance, and aesthetics of the surface transportation networks and public ways within the city. This includes the planning, design, construction, and management of streets, sidewalks, bridges, and alleys. CDOT is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation, an appointee and cabinet member of

1975-648: Is common for airports to provide moving walkways , buses, and rail transport systems. Some airports like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and London Stansted Airport have a transit system that connects some of the gates to a main terminal. Airports with more than one terminal have a transit system to connect the terminals together, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport , Mexico City International Airport and London Gatwick Airport . Airport operations are made possible by an organized network of trained personnel , specialized equipment, and spatial data . After thousands of ground operations staff left

2054-473: Is connected to downtown Chicago via a South Shore Line station . Chicago maintains a 290-mile network of bikeways - including shared use paths , cycle tracks , and bike lanes - for private, public, and commercial bicycle use. Bicycles are allowed to operate on all Chicago roadways, except limited access highways. A bicycle sharing system known as Divvy operates 1,000 bicycle stations in Chicago, Evanston , and Oak Park , with 400 more planned over

2133-472: Is good operating practice for pilots to transmit their intentions on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for the benefit of other aircraft in the area. The CTAF may be a Universal Integrated Community (UNICOM), MULTICOM, Flight Service Station (FSS), or tower frequency. The majority of the world's airports are small facilities without a tower. Not all towered airports have 24/7 ATC operations. In those cases, non-towered procedures apply when

2212-1016: Is handled by commercial water taxis operating on defined routes on published schedules. Shoreline Sightseeing offers water taxi service along the Chicago River with stops at Navy Pier , Michigan Avenue , and Adams Street. They offer a separate route from Navy Pier to the Museum Campus . Wendella Boats operates the Chicago Water Taxi which offers scheduled service along the Chicago River with stops at Michigan Avenue, Clark Street, Madison Street (Ogilvie and Union train stations), Chicago Avenue, North Avenue, and Ping Tom Park in Chinatown . Recreational boat traffic in Chicago includes tour boats, sailboats, powerboats, electric boats, canoes, and kayaks. This traffic originates from numerous private and commercial marinas and slips, and

2291-660: Is known as an apron or ramp (or incorrectly, "the tarmac"). Airport security normally requires baggage checks, metal screenings of individual persons, and rules against any object that could be used as a weapon. Since the September 11 attacks and the Real ID Act of 2005 , airport security has dramatically increased and gotten tighter and stricter than ever before. Most major airports provide commercial outlets for products and services. Most of these companies, many of which are internationally known brands, are located within

2370-850: Is one of the few cities in the United States that provides rapid transit service to two major airports . From the downtown area, the Blue Line reaches O'Hare International Airport in about 40 minutes, while the Orange Line takes customers to Midway Airport in about 25 minutes from the Loop . Pace , another service board within the Regional Transportation Authority, operates a primarily-suburban bus service that also offers some routes into Chicago. Pace came into existence in 1985 under that name, and as an operating agency in 1995. It absorbed routes previously operated by

2449-489: Is subject to fewer special laws and is part of the public realm, while access to the airside zone is tightly controlled. Landside facilities may include publicly accessible airport check-in desks, shops and ground transportation facilities. The airside area includes all parts of the airport around the aircraft, and the parts of the buildings that are restricted to staff, and sections of these extended to travelling, airside shopping , dining, or waiting passengers. Depending on

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2528-669: The Chicago Area Waterway System , which forms the only inland link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River . This potential link was a major factor in the establishment of Chicago itself. The Port of Chicago , once centered on the Chicago River but since moved to the Lake Calumet area, is responsible for Chicago's commercial shipping traffic. Passenger ferry service in Chicago

2607-400: The Chicago Department of Public Works . The Department of Public Works was first recognized as a branch of the city administration in 1861, at which point it consolidated the services of water, sewerage, parks, streets, river and harbor, and public buildings. Initially, the department was headed by an elective board of public works. In 1867, the board became appointive, and in 1876, the board

2686-574: The Chicago Park District operates a municipal harbor system for the seasonal storage of recreational watercraft in Lake Michigan. With accommodations for 6000 boats, it is the largest system of its kind in the nation. Boat rentals are available on both the Chicago River and within harbors on Lake Michigan. Chicago Department of Transportation The Chicago Department of Transportation ( CDOT / ˈ s iː d ɒ t / )

2765-601: The Chicago River opened into a breach which flooded basements and underground facilities throughout the Chicago Loop with an estimated 250 million US gallons (950,000 m ) of water. Investigation into the incident revealed that the tunnel damage was a result of new pilings installed near the Kinzie Street Bridge , which created a slow leak that had been discovered in January of that year. Citing

2844-503: The Chicago Sun-Times reported on CDOT's 50/50 Sidewalk Program . The program was billed as a way for home-owners to evenly split the cost with the city to replace public sidewalks in front of their homes. The report found that most homeowners paid more than 50% of the final construction cost. CDOT subsequently renamed the 40-year-old program to Shared-Cost Sidewalk Program . In late 2010, executives from Redflex Holdings,

2923-503: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Such a connection lowers risk of missed flights due to traffic congestion . Large airports usually have access also through controlled-access highways ('freeways' or 'motorways') from which motor vehicles enter either the departure loop or the arrival loop. The distances passengers need to move within a large airport can be substantial. It

3002-768: The Mayor of Chicago . The second in command at CDOT is the First Deputy Commissioner, who serves as a liaison between the Commissioner's office and the various operational sections. Managing Deputy Commissioners may also be placed by the Commissioner for assistance in policy and operational oversight. CDOT is organized into several Divisions each headed by a Deputy Commissioner, including the Divisions of Administration, Project Development, Engineering, In-House Construction, Electrical Operations, Sign Management, Traffic Safety, and Infrastructure Management. CDOT

3081-583: The Regional Transportation Authority , operates the second largest public transportation system in the United States (to New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority ) and covers the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs. The CTA operates 24 hours a day and, on an average weekday, 1.6 million rides are taken on the CTA. CTA has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes and 2,273 route miles (3,658 km). Buses provide about 1 million passenger trips

3160-739: The AATF, as well as pays for the FAA's Operation and Maintenance (O&M) account. The funding of these accounts are dependent on the taxes the airports generate of revenues. Passenger tickets , fuel , and cargo tax are the taxes that are paid by the passengers and airlines help fund these accounts. Airports revenues are divided into three major parts: aeronautical revenue, non-aeronautical revenue, and non-operating revenue. Aeronautical revenue makes up 50% in 2021 (from 54% and 48% in 2019 and 2020, non-aeronautical revenue makes up 34% (40%, 39% in previous years), and non-operating revenue makes up 16% (6%, 14%) of

3239-489: The Chicago Department of Environment was disbanded and absorbed by other city departments including General Services, Public Health, Family and Support Services, and Water Management. The Department of Transportation took over Environment's Clean Vehicles Initiative. Prior to the 1991 reorganization, the responsibilities of the Department of Transportation (and several other current city departments) belonged to

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3318-549: The FAA under the Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 Part 139, "Certification of Commercial Service Airports" but maintained by the local airport under the regulatory authority of the FAA. Despite the reluctance to privatize airports in the US (contrary to the FAA sponsoring a privatization program since 1996), the government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) arrangement is the standard for

3397-868: The Spanish Ferrovial consortium in 2006, has been further divested and downsized to operating just Heathrow. Germany's Frankfurt Airport is managed by the quasi-private firm Fraport . While in India GMR Group operates, through joint ventures, Indira Gandhi International Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport . Bengaluru International Airport is controlled by Fairfax . Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport , Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport , Mangalore International Airport , Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport , Jaipur International Airport , Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport are operated by Adani Group through

3476-527: The Super Bowl and White Sox spring training over many years, valued at up to US$ 2 million. In February 2013, Chicago's Department of Procurement Services notified Redflex they would not be considered for an upcoming red light camera RFP. In April 2012, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on vendor selection improprieties for the new public bike share program, known as Divvy . That program contract

3555-457: The US in particular, airports also typically have one or more fixed-base operators , serving general aviation . Airport operations are extremely complex, with a complicated system of aircraft support services, passenger services, and aircraft control services contained within the operation. Thus airports can be major employers, as well as important hubs for tourism and other kinds of transit. Because they are sites of operation for heavy machinery,

3634-966: The United States. Most operate to and from the Greyhound Lines terminal , located at 630 West Harrison Street (corner of Des Plaines Street). Greyhound Lines operates the majority of the intercity bus service to and from Chicago, with routes connecting Chicago with Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, New York, Detroit, Toronto, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, intermediate points, and connecting with other points beyond. Both Barons Bus Lines and Miller Transportation connect Chicago with Fort Wayne and Columbus. Indian Trails connects Chicago with Kalamazoo, Lansing, Flint, and Bay City. Burlington Trailways connects Chicago with Rockford, Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington, Des Moines, Omaha, and Denver. Other intercity bus companies use their own separate intercity bus terminals. Megabus ,

3713-417: The abolishment of the three-man board in 1876, the department was composed of the bureaus of water, sewerage, streets, special assessment, engineering, and maps. Since the Department's inception in 1991, the position of Commissioner of Transportation has been filled fourteen times by thirteen individuals, including five official "Acting Commissioners". On April 13, 1992, a damaged utility tunnel wall beneath

3792-490: The aircraft. Similarly, import cargo that is offloaded needs to be in bond before the consignee decides to take delivery. Areas have to be kept aside for examination of export and import cargo by the airport authorities. Designated areas or sheds may be given to airlines or freight forward ring agencies. Every cargo terminal has a landside and an airside. The landside is where the exporters and importers through either their agents or by themselves deliver or collect shipments while

3871-414: The airline's clubs. Premium services may sometimes be open to passengers who are members of a different airline's frequent flyer program. This can sometimes be part of a reciprocal deal, as when multiple airlines are part of the same alliance, or as a ploy to attract premium customers away from rival airlines. Sometimes these premium services will be offered to a non-premium passenger if the airline has made

3950-600: The airport that are available for rent by the hour. The smallest type is the capsule hotel popular in Japan. A slightly larger variety is known as a sleep box . An even larger type is provided by the company YOTEL . Some airports provide smoking areas and prayer areas. Airports may also contain premium and VIP services. The premium and VIP services may include express check-in and dedicated check-in counters. These services are usually reserved for first and business class passengers, premium frequent flyers , and members of

4029-551: The airport, passengers and staff must be checked by security or border control before being permitted to enter the airside zone. Conversely, passengers arriving from an international flight must pass through border control and customs to access the landside area, in which they exit, unless in airside transit. Most multi-terminal airports have (variously termed) flight/passenger/air connections buses, moving walkways and/or people movers for inter-terminal airside transit. Their airlines can arrange for baggage to be routed directly to

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4108-446: The airport. Some airport structures include on-site hotels built within or attached to a terminal building. Airport hotels have grown popular due to their convenience for transient passengers and easy accessibility to the airport terminal. Many airport hotels also have agreements with airlines to provide overnight lodging for displaced passengers. Major airports in such countries as Russia and Japan offer miniature sleeping units within

4187-726: The airside is where loads are moved to or from the aircraft. In addition, cargo terminals are divided into distinct areas – export, import, and interline or transshipment. Airports require parking lots, for passengers who may leave the cars at the airport for a long period of time. Large airports will also have car-rental firms, taxi ranks, bus stops and sometimes a train station. Many large airports are located near railway trunk routes for seamless connection of multimodal transport , for instance Frankfurt Airport , Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , London Heathrow Airport , Tokyo Haneda Airport , Tokyo Narita Airport , Hamad International Airport , London Gatwick Airport and London Stansted Airport . It

4266-527: The city's airports is the responsibility of the Chicago Department of Aviation . There are several other smaller commercial airports in the Chicago area, these include: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee is also used by residents of Chicago's northern suburbs looking to avoid the congestion of the two main Chicago airports. South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana

4345-445: The contractor responsible for providing red-light enforcement cameras to CDOT, were implicated in a bribery scandal. The Chicago Tribune reported that a Redflex 'consultant' had been making improper payments to a City of Chicago transportation official, John Bills, who was responsible for overseeing the awarding of contracts for the installation and operation of the widely hated red light camera system. The consultant, Marty O'Malley, who

4424-534: The departure areas. These include clothing boutiques and restaurants and in the US amounted to $ 4.2 billion in 2015. Prices charged for items sold at these outlets are generally higher than those outside the airport. However, some airports now regulate costs to keep them comparable to "street prices". This term is misleading as prices often match the manufacturers' suggested retail price (MSRP) but are almost never discounted. Many new airports include walkthrough duty-free stores that require air passengers to enter

4503-645: The distinction of being the first privately owned public airport in Pakistan and South Asia . In the US, commercial airports are generally operated directly by government entities or government-created airport authorities (also known as port authorities ), such as the Los Angeles World Airports authority that oversees several airports in the Greater Los Angeles area , including Los Angeles International Airport . In Canada,

4582-473: The facilities used on a flight like water, food, wifi and shows which is paid while paying for an airline ticket . Aircraft parking is also a major revenue source for airports. Aircraft are parked for a certain amount of time before or after takeoff and have to pay to park there. Every airport has its own rates of parking, for example, John F Kennedy airport in New York City charges $ 45 per hour for

4661-610: The federal authority, Transport Canada, divested itself of all but the remotest airports in 1999/2000. Now most airports in Canada are operated by individual legal authorities, such as Vancouver International Airport Authority (although still owned by Transport Canada); some airports, such as Boundary Bay Airport and Pitt Meadows Airport, are municipally owned. Many US airports still lease part or all of their facilities to outside firms, who operate functions such as retail management and parking. All US commercial airport runways are certified by

4740-540: The focus of many of Amtrak's transcontinental routes. Unlike most of Amtrak's major stations, all trains calling at Union Station either originate or terminate there; passengers coming through Chicago must transfer to another train to reach their destination. It provides connections to Metra and the "L". Before Amtrak's takeover of passenger service in 1971, trains ran out of Central Station , Dearborn Station , LaSalle Street Station and Chicago and North Western Terminal as well as Union Station. The Chicago Express Loop

4819-489: The industry during the COVID-19 pandemic , there have been discussions on the need for systemic improvements in three primary areas: The surfaces where ground operations occur are generally divided into three regions: runways , taxiways , and aprons . Air traffic control (ATC) is the task of managing aircraft movements and making sure they are safe, orderly and expeditious. At the largest airports, air traffic control

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4898-764: The main lines, the Metra Electric District has two branches, and the Rock Island District and Union Pacific Northwest have one branch each. Each line connects into one of four different downtown stations: Union Pacific North , West , and Northwest arrive in the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center (known more casually as the "North Western Station", its original name under Chicago and North Western ); Milwaukee District North and West , North Central Service , SouthWest Service , BNSF Railway , and Heritage Corridor converge in Union Station (which

4977-403: The name of an aerodrome may be a commercial decision. In US technical/legal usage, landing area is used instead of aerodrome , and airport means "a landing area used regularly by aircraft for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo". An airport solely serving helicopters is called a heliport . An airport for use by seaplanes and amphibious aircraft is called a seaplane base . Such

5056-467: The next few years. Pedicabs are available for hire at various locations and events around Chicago with high pedestrian traffic. Bicycles are available for rent at rental shops concentrated along the lakefront in the Loop and Near North Side community areas. Several delivery companies operate bicycle courier services mainly in the Loop area. Bicycles are permitted on CTA buses via front-mounted bicycle racks and onboard CTA trains weekdays excluding

5135-558: The one airport terminal allowing ultra-premium customers, such as first class customers, additional services, which are not available to other premium customers. Multiple lounges may also prevent overcrowding of the lounge facilities. In addition to people, airports move cargo around the clock. Cargo airlines often have their own on-site and adjacent infrastructure to transfer parcels between ground and air. Cargo Terminal Facilities are areas where international airports export cargo has to be stored after customs clearance and prior to loading

5214-494: The operation of commercial airports in the rest of the world. The Airport & Airway Trust Fund (AATF) was created by the Airport and Airway Development in 1970 which finances aviation programs in the United States. Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Facilities and Equipment (F&E), and Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) are the three major accounts of Federal Aviation Administration which are financed by

5293-425: The passenger's destination. Most major airports issue a secure keycard , an airside pass to employees, to assist in their reliable, standardized and efficient verification of identity. A terminal is a building with passenger facilities. Small airports have one terminal. Large ones often have multiple terminals, though some large airports, like Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , still have one terminal. The terminal has

5372-562: The proportion of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles from less than one percent to over 74 percent of the city's cab fleet since 2008. Chicago waterways are used extensively for commercial shipping, passenger ferry service, and recreational boating. Navigable waterways within Chicago include Lake Michigan , the Chicago River , the Calumet River , and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal . In part, these waterways comprise

5451-585: The rush hours from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. On weekends and holidays, bicycles are allowed on trains all day except for special events. Bicycles are allowed onboard Metra commuter rail service during off-peak and non-event times and in reverse peak directions during rush hours. Bicycles are only allowed on designated South Shore Line commuter rail service trains as part of a pilot program active during non-winter months. Bicycles are allowed on water taxis during off-peak and weekend hours. The Chicago Transit Authority , or CTA, one of three service boards within

5530-458: The terms heliport , seaplane base , and STOLport refer to airports dedicated exclusively to helicopters , seaplanes , and short take-off and landing aircraft. In colloquial use in certain environments, the terms airport and aerodrome are often interchanged. However, in general, the term airport may imply or confer a certain stature upon the aviation facility that other aerodromes may not have achieved. In some jurisdictions, airport

5609-470: The total revenue of airports. Aeronautical revenue are generated through airline rents and landing, passenger service, parking, and hangar fees. Landing fees are charged per aircraft for landing an airplane in the airport property. Landing fees are calculated through the landing weight and the size of the aircraft which varies but most of the airports have a fixed rate and a charge extra for extra weight. Passenger service fees are charges per passengers for

5688-683: The vast majority, often have a single runway shorter than 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Larger airports for airline flights generally have paved runways of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) or longer. Skyline Airport in Inkom, Idaho , has a runway that is only 122 m (400 ft) long. In the United States, the minimum dimensions for dry, hard landing fields are defined by the FAR Landing And Takeoff Field Lengths . These include considerations for safety margins during landing and takeoff. The longest public-use runway in

5767-557: The world is at Qamdo Bamda Airport in China. It has a length of 5,500 m (18,045 ft). The world's widest paved runway is at Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport in Russia and is 105 m (344 ft) wide. As of 2009 , the CIA stated that there were approximately 44,000 "airports or airfields recognizable from the air" around the world, including 15,095 in the US, the US having the most in

5846-463: The world. Most of the world's large airports are owned by local, regional, or national government bodies who then lease the airport to private corporations who oversee the airport's operation. For example, in the UK the state-owned British Airports Authority originally operated eight of the nation's major commercial airports – it was subsequently privatized in the late 1980s, and following its takeover by

5925-418: Was a long time friend of Bills hired to oversee the Chicago contract, had received US$ 570,000 in commissions for the contract which had provided approximately US$ 100 million in revenue for Redflex. A hired investigator found that Redflex had provided Bills with lavish vacations expensed directly on the expense report of Redflex Executive Vice-President Aaron Rosenberg, who had also 'gifted' Bills with trips to

6004-404: Was awarded to Alta Bicycle Share, however, Josh Squire, the owner of the competing vendor, Bike Chicago, claimed that then current Commissioner Gabe Klein failed to disclose former ties to the winning bidder, specifically that he had worked for Alta in 2011. Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport . They usually consist of

6083-472: Was completely abolished in favor of a single commissioner. Mayor Heath served as the first temporary head of the department until a commissioner was provided in May, 1879. The office of deputy-commissioner was created in 1892. At the time of creation (but no longer the case), the position was at the appointment of the mayor, which created a confusing line of responsibility for the heads of the department. After

6162-547: Was established by order of the Chicago City Council on 11 December 1991 when Mayor Richard M. Daley restructured the Chicago Department of Public Works into the new Chicago Department of Transportation. The restructuring took effect on 1 January 1992. John N. LaPlante, who was appointed as Acting Commissioner of Public Works in September 1991, continued as the first Acting Commissioner of CDOT. In 2011,

6241-593: Was permanently discontinued in 2009. The free trolleys should not be confused with the private-sector Chicago Trolley Company , which offers guided tours and charge fares. They serve different routes but largely the same downtown area. Their vehicles are also buses rather than real trolleys . The average Chicago commuter spends 86 minutes every day traveling to and from work on public transit. Of public transit riders, 28.% ride for more than 2 hours every day. On average, commuters wait at stops or stations for 15 minutes; 21% of riders wait for over 20 minutes. The average trip

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