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The 606: Turning One Transportation Solution into Another

A century ago in Chicago, freight train traffic at street level caused thousands of fatalities each year. Responding to outcry from citizens, the city required the railroad companies to elevate their tracks. An engineering marvel in its day, the Bloomingdale Line was elevated without disrupting train traffic. A hundred years later with train traffic on the line reduced to almost nothing, the city once again responded to citizen outcry, this time for more park and green space. The 606, with the Bloomingdale Trail as its centerpiece, opened in 2015 as a 2.7 mile bicycle, running, and strolling path. Tour participants will walk the length of the trail and learn about the success and challenges of designing, funding and building what Bicycle Magazine called “One of Our Favorite Bike Paths, Anywhere.”

Modes: “L” Train, Walking