Before the introduction of trains and subways, urban transportation was chaotic. Most commuters traveled on foot; for longer distances or crossing water bodies ferries were used. When elevated train lines first emerged they drastically improved efficiency in cities by getting commuters where they needed to go quickly and safely while simultaneously decreasing road traffic congestion and air pollution levels.
Elevated train systems and subways not only reduce congestion on city streets, but they can also help lower noise levels by providing an alternative to driving cars during peak hours - this helps prevent car accidents as well as fuel waste which save money over time through reduced insurance premiums and gas costs respectively.
Elevated railways fell out of favor during the early part of the 20th Century as cities cleaned up their images and redeveloped industrial areas; but many are being rediscoverd now that cities have cleaned up their images and revitalized industrial zones. Former slaughter house and warehouse neighborhoods now host beautiful parks like The High Line which have inspired cities with elevated rail lines to rethink these outmoded structures.
However, elevated railways will always be remembered not just for their physical remains or even for their rise and fall; their lasting legacy lies in what they did for urban transport. Prior to elevated train lines surfacing, urban transport was chaotic with everyone involved embroiled in political feuds without an overall plan in place. New York City saw its inaugural elevated railway open on Greenwich Street & Ninth Avenue back in 1878 before eventually spreading throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.
