CHICAGO, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Reliable old favorites are good. The new and revelatory can be better. But it takes a little more to be recognized as the absolute best of Chicago.

By Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune Apr. 8--CTA customers can now use Google to plan their rides on trains and buses under an agreement announced Tuesday.

By Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune Feb. 14--Mayor Richard Daley Thursday announced a $227 million program to improve the safety and reliability of Chicago Transit Authority trains and buses. The program would eliminate slow zones, including on the West Englewood branch of the Green Line.

By Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune Jan. 24--CTA train operators and police officers will be able to tap into live videos shot from inside new rail cars to respond to crime or other emergencies, transit officials said Wednesday.

By Richard Wronski, Jon Hilkevitch and David Mendell, Chicago Tribune Jan. 12---- Transit officials acknowledged Friday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to give free rides to seniors would probably cost twice as much as originally estimated and require them to raise fares for other riders.