the orange line s terminal @ midway international airport
the orange line opened service on october 31, 1993, , first all-new service in chicago since dan ryan line opened in september 1969 , first extension cta system since o hare airport extension of blue line in september 1984. planning dates late 1930s when city of chicago proposed high speed subway extension along wells-archer-cicero between loop , 63rd street , cicero avenue near chicago midway international airport (then called chicago s municipal airport). 4 decades before chicago transit planners became serious providing rapid transit service area of city.
in 1979, city began southwest transit project, proposed extending cta l system southwest side of chicago on existing railroad rights-of-way , newer elevated connections along busy archer-49th-cicero corridor loop planned terminus @ ford city shopping center. funding project made possible interstate highway transfer monies saved after city decided cancel high priced , controversial crosstown expressway , franklin street subway projects. federal funding project secured u.s. representative william lipinski favor then-president ronald reagan, wanted thank lipinski vote provide aid nicaraguan contras.
in 1987, construction of $510 million transit line began , continued until fall 1993. when midway line opened, cta decided adopt color-coded naming system rapid transit network (like boston, washington d.c. , cleveland) , named orange line.
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