Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about The 606

New Wayfinding Signs on The 606 Are Also Needed for On-Street Routes

By Steven Vance | Dec 24, 2015 | No Comments

Last month, colorful new wayfinding signs were installed near all of the access ramps for The 606, aka the Bloomingdale Trail. They point trail users to the nearest off-ramp and access park. The relatively small text on the signs is a little tricky to read if you’re cycling past them at a moderate pace, but […]

In Some Ways, The 606 Isn’t as Good as the High Line — It’s Better

By John Greenfield | Oct 29, 2015 | 58 Comments

Nationally known urbanist and ex-Chicagoan Aaron Renn recently threw shade on our city’s beloved new linear park with a blog post titled “How Chicago’s 606 Trail Fell Short of Expectations.” He wrote that the new path, aka the Bloomingdale Trail, doesn’t hold a candle to the High Line in Manhattan, where he now resides. However, I’d […]

Police, Park District Still Disagree About Late-Night Travel on The 606

By John Greenfield | Jun 30, 2015 | 25 Comments

Some 80,000 people live within a half mile of the Bloomingdale Trail, aka The 606, the 2.7-mile elevated greenway that connects Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Bucktown, and Wicker Park. Many of these residents regularly bike commute home from work or entertainment after 11 p.m. It’s only logical that these people should be allowed to use […]

Is Late-Night Commuting on The 606 Kosher? Police, Park District Disagree

By John Greenfield | Jun 18, 2015 | 17 Comments

The Bloomingdale Trail, aka The 606, is a 2.7-mile walking and cycling corridor that connects many destinations across the Near Northwest Side and intersects with several key bike routes. Some 80,000 residents live within a half mile of the path. As such, it’s a no-brainer that people should be allowed use it for commuting 24/7, […]

Eyes on the Street: A Wild Night for Chicago’s Public Spaces

By John Greenfield | Jun 16, 2015 | 4 Comments

Whether you’re a rabid Blackhawks fan or couldn’t care less about professional sports, Monday night was an unforgettable evening on the streets of Chicago — and on its newest bike and pedestrian paths. The torrential rains wreaked havoc with the transportation network, flooding streets and viaducts all over the city, and forcing the closures of […]

The Bloomingdale, Chicago’s Awesome New Public Space, Makes Its Debut

By John Greenfield | Jun 8, 2015 | 31 Comments

In a 2009 Chicago Reader story, I noted that the best-case scenario for the Bloomingdale Trail elevated greenway would be a 2016 opening, in time for the Olympics, if then-mayor Richard M. Daley succeeded in winning the games. We all know what happened with the Olympic effort. But here it is, only 2015, and thousands […]

Eyes on the Street: The Bloomingdale Trail Is Almost Ready for Its Close-Up

By John Greenfield | Jun 2, 2015 | 5 Comments

Chicagoans are in for a treat this Saturday, when the Bloomingdale Trail, aka The 606, finally opens to the public. For roughly two decades, residents have been pushing to turn the 2.7-mile railroad right-of-way into a multiuse path and linear park. While the initiative slowly moved forward under the Richard M. Daley administration, Rahm Emanuel deserves […]

Teens Help Spread the Word About the Bloomingdale Bridge Transplant

By John Greenfield | Apr 18, 2014 | 2 Comments

Tomorrow morning, early risers can catch what may be the most dramatic step in the process of converting the Bloomingdale Line to an elevated greenway and linear park. Starting around 5 a.m., crews will begin the process of transporting the rail line’s massive Ashland bridge 1.5 miles to its new home at Western. “On Saturday, […]

Learn How the Bloomingdale Will Integrate Art at a New Pedway Display

By John Greenfield | Jan 13, 2014 | 1 Comment

It’s gorgeous outside at the moment, but when the temperatures dip again later this week, I recommend ducking into the Pedway system for an update on how the arts are being incorporated into the design of the Bloomingdale Trail, AKA the 606. Located in the underground walkway below the Daley Center, the new exhibit “Arts […]

The 2013 Chicago Streetsie Awards

By John Greenfield | Dec 30, 2013 | 6 Comments

Season’s Greetings Streetsblog Chicago readers. I hope you’ve had a joyful December and are gearing up for a fabulous New Year’s Eve. 2013 has been a banner year for walking, biking and transit in the Windy City, but there were so many landmarks and firsts, as well as a few discouraging developments, that it’s a […]

Educational Specialist Hired to Create Programming for the Bloomingdale

By John Greenfield | Dec 18, 2013 | 8 Comments

The Bloomingdale Trail, AKA The 606, is not just going to be a great transportation and recreation facility. It’s also going to be an important educational resource for students at the 25 schools located within a ten-minute walk of the 2.7-mile elevated greenway and linear park. Today the Trust for Public Land, which is managing […]

Bloomingdale Trail’s New Name Revealed as Construction Begins at Park 567

By Steven Vance | Jun 21, 2013 | 14 Comments

At a community meeting Tuesday night at the McCormick-Tribune YMCA, planners discussed the final designs, construction schedule, and new name for the trail and “linear park” formerly known as the Bloomingdale. The newly coined appellation “The 606” is an umbrella term referring to the trail as well as five adjacent parks that will serve as […]

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