Why Doesn't Chicago Have More Subways?

Video Description

Chicago Almost Became a Subway City In the late 1930s, Chicago had a bold plan to remake its rapid transit system, replacing large portions of its elevated rail network with an extensive system of underground subways. The vision called for 50 miles of new tunnels, the eventual removal of the Loop Elevated, and a fundamentally different future for transit in America’s second city. So why didn’t it happen? In this video, we explore a largely forgotten chapter of Chicago transit history, tracing how the city managed to build its first subway lines during the Great Depression, why federal New Deal funding made those projects possible, and how financial, political, and technological realities stopped the broader plan in its tracks. We’ll explore: - Why Chicago’s transit system entered crisis in the 1930s - How rising automobile ownership reshaped urban transportation - The role of the Public Works Administration (PWA) and New Deal infrastructure spending - How the State Street Subway and Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway were engineered and built - The sweeping 1939 Chicago Subway Plan that proposed eliminating much of the elevated system - Why postwar funding priorities ended large-scale subway expansion - How today’s CTA network still reflects decisions made nearly a century ago This story connects urban planning, engineering, economic history, and the long-running debate over elevated rail vs subways, showing how Chicago came remarkably close to building one of the largest subway systems in the United States. Whether you’re a Chicagoan, a transit nerd, an urbanist, or a fan of infrastructure megaprojects, this video uncovers how the Great Depression briefly opened a window for transformative transit investment — and why it ultimately closed. Huge thanks to Graham Garfield of https://www.chicago-l.org/ whose research formed the backbone of this video. If you enjoy deep dives into rail transit, city planning, and transportation history, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing. Much more is on the way! Would Chicago be better today with a mostly underground transit system? Let me know what you think in the comments 👇 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:59 Chicago Transit During the Depression 02:22 The 1937 Transit Plan Sets the Stage 03:27 Two Competing Visions for the Subways 04:32 Chicago Builds its First Subways 07:16 Postwar Subway Building 07:52 The 1939 Comprehensive Subway Plan 10:07 Why Didn't we Build More Subways? 11:09 End Credits