> Now I know you've never been in a city with an elevated train system. I once lived nine blocks away from an elevated train, and I could hear it all day and all night.
It is possible to build elevated rail that is much quieter than Chicago's and NYC's systems, so Chicago shouldn't be held up as an example of how noisy elevated systems have to be.
Plus Chicago's is super old. Use the newer Orange Line and it's much quieter. The high speed intercity/commuter rails in The Netherlands are also super quiet (and massive!). They move a lot of people too!
It is possible to build elevated rail that is much quieter than Chicago's and NYC's systems, so Chicago shouldn't be held up as an example of how noisy elevated systems have to be.