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Chicago has a larger mass transit network when it comes to rapid transit and commuter rail, so I'd say Chicago. Its age made it pretty rough for a while, but Chicago has expended quite a bit of effort in rehabilitating much of the system so its performance is back up again.
Both cities could use much improved transit though, and Chicago could especially use a line that that doesn't go through the Loop directly. I think one that uses the express tracks that the Purple Line uses that instead of running only in peak hours and going down into the Loop with the Brown Line, it takes those express tracks and then follows the Red Line underground where it then goes due south on Halstead all the way to 63rd street if not much further. Another good one would be to not run the Ashland branch as part of the Green Line, but instead a separate line that tracks along 63rd street from Woodlawn to Midway.
^ Actually Chicago does have one line that does not go through the Loop - the Yellow line. Though it's the least used line in the system by far.
Yes, I know it. Didn’t mention the Skokie Swift because of its three station service. That being said, if the Purple Line were to be sent down Halstead instead of the Loop, the Yellow Line should take over the current Purple Line route during peak hours.
I've been taking the train in Chicago from O'Hare to downtown and from downtown to other parts. It was an interesting experience as far fellow travelers were concerned ... People starting to talk to you about religion and such. Overall, outside of downtown, Chicago just does not feel right to me. From a personal safety point of view, I'd take public transportation in Toronto anytime over Chicago.
I've been taking the train in Chicago from O'Hare to downtown and from downtown to other parts. It was an interesting experience as far fellow travelers were concerned ... People starting to talk to you about religion and such. Overall, outside of downtown, Chicago just does not feel right to me. From a personal safety point of view, I'd take public transportation in Toronto anytime over Chicago.
Where have you been outside of downtown in Chicago? The blue line is interesting and a crapshoot as far as experience goes. I used to take it all the time. And after living in Chicago for nearly a decade, the only crime I ever saw was a guy pickpocketing a lady on a very busy train...which I've also seen in cities like Rome first hand. Other than that, never once had an issue with security in nearly a decade.
But my question remains..where outside of downtown have you spent time?
I voted for Chicago ... by a nose. Yes the L is a larger network than the TTC subway, but Chicago is a much larger metro than Toronto (nearly 10M vs. nearly 6M), plus, Toronto is increasingly using LRT to expand the reach of the subway. The 4.3 mile Scarborough Line is LRT, but I believe is being converted to HRT to extend the Bloor-Danforth Line. Also, there's the Harbour LRT which starts out as a subway connection to the Union Station subway stop, and the extensive Ellington crosstown subway-surface LRT under construction. So really, to be fair to Toronto, rapid transit isn't just restricted to the 3 HRT lines.
Obviously the Chicago L, begun in 1892, is one of the classic, world legacy transit networks. But it is outdated and clunky in many ways, like too many, close-spaced stations in some areas, like the far north Red Line with stations every few blocks greatly slowing trains traversing such a huge city. Also, while quaint and interesting, those old, weather-exposed wooden platforms, esp in the downtown area, are not conducive to the tastes of a cyber-generation that likes creature comforts. Add to that the archaic poor transfer aspects of certain lines in/near the Loop as well as at-grade switching and crossing between lines, which slow trains considerably at times, esp during rush hour. Maybe that was cool for a Late 19th, early 20th century city, but not for 2018.
In addition, GO-Transit is in the in the early stages of electrifying a number of Toronto's several commuter rail lines (including the recently added airport branch) -- it's a very extensive, impressive system as it is. Once this occurs, along with the aforementioned Ellington expansion, I will have to switch my vote to Tornoto, given there are not any such major expansions/conversions for the L anytime soon.
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