ELEVATED RAILROADS (9-124-290 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 9, ch. 9-124, art. III

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-290 Scope of regulations.

9-124-290 Scope of regulations. Nothing contained in this part of this chapter dealing with elevated railroads, or any order of the city council passed in pursuance thereof shall affect or prejudice in any way the rights of the city or its legal representatives, or the state's attorney of Cook County, in any pending or future litigation concerning the respective rights of the city or the owners or lessees of any electric elevated railroad in any of the streets of the city under any statute or ordinance heretofore enacted or passed. Nor shall any section of this part of this chapter dealing with elevated railroads be construed or understood as extending or enlarging in any way rights which the owners or lessees of any such elevated railroad may now possess in the public streets of the city. (Prior code § 188-32)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-300 "Rush hours" defined.

9-124-300 "Rush hours" defined. For the purposes of this part of this chapter dealing with elevated railroads, rush hours are hereby defined to be the following periods of time: between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Prior code § 188-33)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-310 Schedule of operation.

9-124-310 Schedule of operation. Every person owning any tracks over which any elevated railroad trains are operated, or operating any elevated railroad trains, shall control the operation of said trains by means of a written schedule for each separate line. Said schedule or schedules shall be prepared to provide a sufficient number of trains in order to comply with the provisions of this Code. One true copy of each schedule, showing the number of trains operated thereby, and the train numbers, and the schedule time of arriving at and departing from one terminal, and the running time between designated time points, shall be filed with the city clerk. In case a revision or rearrangement of any schedule is made, one true copy of the new schedule shall be filed with the city clerk not less than three days before such new schedule shall be put into effect. Each train operated shall bear a suitable run number sign, indicating the position of said train on its schedule and identifying its schedule movements, and each train operated in addition to the schedule cars as an "extra" car shall carry a suitable train number sign bearing the letter "X". Each train (extra trains excepted) shall be dispatched and operated in accordance with the schedule on file with the city clerk. Each day that any violation of this section shall continue shall be considered a separate and distinct offense. (Prior code § 188-34)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-320 Seats for passengers.

9-124-320 Seats for passengers. Every person owning any tracks over which any elevated railroad trains are operated, or operating any elevated railroad trains, shall on each separate line operate trains at such intervals (except during rush hours) that the aggregate number of seats within the trains passing any point in any one direction during any period of 15 consecutive minutes shall be not less than the aggregate number of passengers carried on said trains passing said point during said period of 15 consecutive minutes. Provided, however, that if less than three trains pass any point on any line during a 15-minute period, then the aggregate number of seats carried by three consecutive trains in any one direction passing any point shall be not less than the aggregate number of passengers carried by said three consecutive trains passing said point. Every person owning any tracks over which any elevated railroad trains are operated, or operating any elevated trains, shall operate trains at such intervals that not less than one train shall be operated during each and every fifteen minute period of the entire 24 hours of each day, excepting the six hours between 12:00 and 6:00 a.m. Every person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. Each day upon which a violation occurs upon any one line shall constitute a single offense. Not more than one penalty shall be recovered for a violation committed on any line during any one day. (Prior code § 188-35)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-330 Stops when on ground.

9-124-330 Stops when on ground. No person owning or operating any elevated railroad shall suffer or permit any car operated by it, when in transit over the surface of the ground upon rails laid thereon, to be run by any street intersection at which a station has been provided, without stopping. All such cars while so in transit shall be stopped at each station. (Prior code § 188-36)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-340 Shunting or running down inclines.

9-124-340 Shunting or running down inclines. No person owning or operating any elevated railroad shall allow or permit any of the cars owned or operated by him to be shunted or run down inclines from the elevated structure to the surface of the ground, unless such cars are under the absolute control of a competent motorman or engineer, or person acquainted with and competent to operate the motor machinery of such car. No car shall be allowed or permitted by any person operating or owning the same to be shunted or run down any such incline, unless the motor machinery of the same can be controlled so as to decrease the rate of speed of such car while running down such incline. No car shall be run down such incline at a rate of speed greater than ten miles per hour. (Prior code § 188-37)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-350 Storing cars.

9-124-350 Storing cars. No person owning or operating any elevated railway shall store or permit to be stored any car owned or operated by it upon those parts of its elevated structures which are built over or upon any of the public ways or other public places of the city. (Prior code § 188-38)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-360 Construction and location of stations.

9-124-360 Construction and location of stations. In all cases where the distance between consecutive stations or landing places for receiving and discharging passengers on any line of elevated railroad operated for the transportation of passengers is more than 2,500 feet, the person owning or operating such line of elevated railroad shall install and maintain an intermediate station or landing place for receiving and discharging passengers and shall afford to the public at such intermediate station or landing place the same facilities for entering and departing from cars as are afforded at other stations or landing places similarly situated along the same line. Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting or restricting the right to run express trains over such line which do not stop at all stations. Such intermediate station or landing place shall be located at or near a public street which crosses such line of electric elevated railroad and which is situated as near as practicable equally distant from such consecutive stations. The exact location of such intermediate station may be prescribed by order of the city council; provided, that it shall be not more than 250 feet from the center of the distance between such consecutive stations. Whenever the location of any such intermediate station or landing place for receiving and discharging passengers shall be prescribed by order of the city council the person owning or operating such line of an elevated railroad shall have 90 days' time within which to construct and install such intermediate station or landing place for receiving and discharging passengers during which no prosecution for failure to install and maintain same shall lie. Wherever an intermediate station or landing place for receiving and discharging passengers as required by this section shall occupy any part of a public way, either on the surface thereof or overhead, before any work of construction shall begin, plans for same shall first be submitted to and be approved by the commissioner of transportation and the building commissioner. In all cases such intermediate stations or landing places shall be constructed so as to comply with all ordinances of the city relating to buildings or structures of this character. (Prior code § 188-39; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 177)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-370 Station enclosures.

9-124-370 Station enclosures. Every person owning or operating an elevated railroad shall provide and equip all station platforms, which are used in connection with the operation of such railroad, with a top or roof of incombustible material and with storm enclosures of glass or other suitable material on three sides thereof, so that the patrons or passengers of such elevated railroad may be protected from inclement weather while waiting for trains. Provided, however, that the provisions relating to said storm enclosures of station platforms shall not apply to the platforms which are commonly known as island platforms and where more than one side of such platforms is used for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers. All such platforms commonly called island platforms, and platforms where more than one side thereof are used for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, shall be provided with storm enclosures of glass or other suitable material at each end of same, and shall also be provided with a longitudinal partition running down the middle of such platforms the entire length thereof. Such partitions shall extend from the platforms to the roof and connect with the storm enclosures at each end of such platform, and shall be provided with sufficient openings to permit passage by persons from one side to another. Such enclosures and partitions shall be provided during the months of November, December, January, February and March of each year. (Prior code § 188-40)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-380 Illuminated station signs.

9-124-380 Illuminated station signs. Every person operating an elevated railroad shall place and maintain at each station on such railroad at least three signs on each platform at such stations, one of said signs to be placed in the middle and one at either end of each platform. Said signs shall distinctly show the name of the station. The signs at the ends of the platform shall be illuminated at night so that the name can be easily read. Said illuminated signs shall be made, placed and maintained in conspicuous positions not less than nine inches above the top of the railing on the platform, and in such manner that they can be read easily by persons on the trains of such railroad. All signs shall be of a pattern, material and size meeting the approval of the commissioner of transportation, and shall be constructed, placed and maintained in a manner meeting with the commissioner's approval. (Prior code § 188-41; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 178)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-390 Penalty.

9-124-390 Penalty. Except where some other penalty is specifically provided, any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this part of this chapter dealing with elevated railroads shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. Each day that such person shall fail to comply with or shall violate the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a distinct and separate offense. (Prior code § 188-42)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2649794Fetched: 10/24/2026