The largest and longest assignment I contributed to at Active Trans was the Chicagoland Trail Webinar Blog Series. The goal of the series was to inform Chicagoans of recent and future trail developments across the . To do this, I watched each webinar and noted the most important aspects. Then, I researched any transportation jargon I didn't know to write a blog that was accessible to everyday trail users. I made sure to add contextual links to the body of the article to link internal and external content. Another important aspect of content development included being precise with the location of each new trail development and including necessary maps or images of current or future developments.

Improvements coming for the Des Plaines River Trail

Jul 14, 2023 | by Olivia Borowiak

The Des Plaines River Trail is one of the most significant trails in Chicagoland because of how it connects communities from the Wisconsin border all the way to the near-west suburbs of Brookfield and Forest Park.

In Cook County, the Des Plaines River Trail has the potential to connect key destinations such as the Illinois Prairie Path, the Salt Creek Trail, the Medical District, the CTA Blue Line, and the Brookfield Zoo.

There are a number of exciting trail improvements underway, some of which will make the path usable for more of the year by rerouting it away from flood-prone areas. Other improvements will make it safer to reach the trail from key points in nearby communities, such as the CTA Blue Line Station in Forest Park.

NORTHERN SEGMENT

Several improvements are being considered for the northern segment, which runs 10 miles from Touhy Avenue to North Avenue. One upgrade would lengthen the trail an additional two miles so that it connects to the Illinois Prairie Path.

Other improvements include:

Trail reconstruction and/or reroutes in places where the trail regularly floods (see top photo)
New and improved crossings of arterial streets
Potentially rebuilding portions of the trail on a boardwalk because of flooding
New connections to nearby trails

CENTRAL SEGMENT

The central part of the trail is currently undergoing a feasibility study led by Active Transportation Alliance and Civiltech Engineering that is focused on closing the 2.5-mile trail gap between the Forest Park Blue Line station at Van Buren Street and 26th Street near the Salt Creek Trail.

Trail users wishing to connect to and from communities to the south must currently travel along wide, busy streets or wind through disconnected residential streets. This is why it is necessary to create a clear, identifiable, low-stress, on-street option to fill in the gap.

Work began in February 2022 to identify the route and is expected to be wrapped up at the end of this summer.

A major part of the study was surveying community members to gather direct input. Over 300 community members took the survey and many of them expressed a great deal of excitement about the project because of improved access to trail destinations.

People also expressed a desire for improved crossings at major roads, underpasses, and overpasses; improved access to key destinations such as Brookfield Zoo and the CTA Blue Line; and for more sidewalks, personal safety, signage, and lighting.

To connect the trail with the Forest Park Blue Line station, four routes are currently being considered that offer a combination of low-stress on-street routes and side paths, but one of them stands out over the others.

The Medical Campus Alignment, as it’s known, runs from the Illinois Prairie Path to 9th Avenue to Roosevelt Road through the Medical Campus (at Frontage Road and 2nd Avenue) to Cermak Road, 5th Avenue and then 26th Street.

This route is the highest rated because of how it’s a direct route, connects the trail to local destinations, considers wetland impacts and land acquisition, and offers 24-hour access.

Other routes under consideration are less viable because of limited access to key destinations, higher expenses, and more construction complications.

SOUTHERN SEGMENT

Running between 26th Street and Ogden Avenue, the southern section of the Des Plaines River Trail in Cook County has a couple of gaps appearing between the Prairie Path, the Salt Creek Path, the CTA Blue Line, and the Proposed Thatcher Wood Path.

Filling these gaps would allow for more connections to local suburban communities, mass transit, and recreational bike routes. The creation of a safe sidewalk and a new intersection at Maybrook and 1st Avenue would help close one of these gaps.

While big, multi-faceted projects like this are exciting, they also bring their challenges. One of the challenges is making sure that the new trail sections — as well any new connector trails — are properly maintained once they are built.

Another challenge in a project like this is the coordination that is needed among the large number of municipalities and organizations involved. The Des Plaines River Trail encounters many jurisdictions and each have to be included in the planning and construction.

We’re expecting that the overall benefits of these trail improvements will be huge — and more people will be able to enjoy this treasure that exists in our west and northwest suburbs.

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Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted a webinar focused on upcoming improvements to the Des Plaines River Trail. If you want to learn more about the projects underway, check out the recording of the webinar.

Olivia Borowiak is an intern for the Active Transportation Alliance.

South Side trail updates and improvements

Sep 14, 2023 | by Olivia Borowiak

The South Side of Chicago has long suffered from a dearth of trails and green space. Thankfully, it’s an issue that’s getting more attention.

Local community groups and government agencies are revitalizing vacant community spaces to create new trails and enhance existing trails as they seek to bring sustainable transportation options to these historically disinvested neighborhoods.

Recently, Active Transportation Alliance hosted a webinar exploring the exciting improvements and new projects coming to these trails that will create long-overdue sustainable transportation options. Here are some of the projects highlighted in the webinar:

COOK COUNTY BIKE PLAN

This year Cook County released its first-ever bike plan, which focuses on equitable investments to make bicycling more convenient and comfortable across the county.

Its goal is to ensure 96 percent of county residents live less than a mile from a bike path or bike lane suitable for any rider or ability level.

Three principles guide the plan:

Increase everyday cycling by supporting bike commuting and better transit integration.
Create a core low-stress network of bike trails and bike lanes.
Invest equitably to make sure bike facilities are available in all communities.

Part of the plan specifically promotes equitable and sustainable trails. It outlines ways the county will connect the existing trail networks to eliminate gaps and study potential areas where new off-street trails can be installed.

LAKE CALUMET TRAIL

A feasibility study of the Lake Calumet Trail recently wrapped up, designating that the 2-mile trail will connect on Port District property near the entrance to the Harborside Golf Course and stretch around the lake to the entrance of Big Marsh Park.

The trail will run on the ground but also on boardwalks (see rendering above) and bridges on or near the water, taking into consideration the lake’s unique wetland environment. Additionally, on the eastern side of the lake, a trail loop will give users the ability to connect with nature.

Another feature of the new trail will be a connector going up and over Stony Island Avenue and the railroad tracks for low-stress walking and biking access to the area.

The feasibility study also incorporated community engagement and feedback. Residents and stakeholders said they look forward to how this new trail will connect communities and bring recreational opportunities with the construction of wildlife viewing areas, benches, and overlook decks.

ENGLEWOOD NATURE TRAIL

Since 2009, Grow Greater Englewood has been working on the Englewood Nature Trail, a new 2-mile linear park. The project will follow in the 606’s footsteps by repurposing unused train tracks into an elevated trail.

The trail will connect Englewood’s growing network of urban farms and gardens, helping to strengthen access to local food, health and wellness, and employment in the neighborhood.

The trail will also serve as the anchor for the Englewood Agro-Eco District, the first of its kind in the nation. It will transform vacant lots into an urban agriculture zone and green space. The agro-district will feature infrastructure that values ecosystem biodiversity and fair food systems, while also protecting against displacement.

BRONZEVILLE TRAIL

Managed by the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, the Bronzeville Trail will turn the abandoned Kenwood and Stock Yard CTA train tracks into a 2-mile elevated trail for walking and bicycling — putting the land to use for the first time in more than 60 years. It will connect communities west of the Dan Ryan Expressway safely to the 41st Street pedestrian bridge and the Lakefront Trail.

The Bronzeville Trail will take users by a variety of historic landmarks, including the DuSable Museum, Ida B. Wells House, and the Roberts Temple Church. In addition, the trail will also connect to the CTA Green Line.

MAJOR TAYLOR TRAIL

Running from the Far Southwest Side of Chicago to South Suburban Riverdale, the Major Taylor Trail is a 7-mile rail-to-trail pathway that connects the Dan Ryan Woods Forest Preserve to Whistler Woods Forest Preserve (see image above).

The trail, which is named after African-American cycling legend and civil rights activist Marshall “Major” Taylor, touches five wards, is surrounded by 200,000 Chicagoans, and crosses three Metra lines.

Although the trail was completed in 2007, Major Taylor Trail Keepers want to see the Marshall Major Taylor Trail Identity and Wayfinding Plan put into place.

The plan recommends installing branded sign markers and locator maps to assist with trail navigation. Other amenities — such as water fountains, benches, streetlights, and revamped curbs — will help make the trail safer and more enjoyable.

The plan also calls for highlighting Taylor’s achievements given that many people outside of Black cycling culture are not familiar with the champion cyclist. That includes installing branded interpretive signs and murals that educate trail users about Taylor’s accomplishments and celebrate his legacy.

BURNHAM GREENWAY

Spanning 11 miles from Chicago’s South Side to the I-80 freeway, the Burnham Greenway is a trail on a former railroad right-of-way that connects Eggers Grove in the north to the Thorn Creek Trail system in South Suburban Lansing.

The Burnham Multimodal Connector is one of the bike projects that Cook County wants to complete by 2027 as part of its bike plan. The connector will fill in trail gaps by going up and over roads, railways, and ComEd power lines, ultimately enhancing trail connectivity and making the trail safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists.

Investing in all these new trails and trail improvements will allow residents to have access to convenient and affordable pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure. These projects not only provide much-needed sustainable transportation options but also help address inequities and improve the quality of life in these South Side communities.

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Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted a webinar focused on what is being done to improve the trail network on Chicago’s South Side. If you want to learn more about the projects underway, check out the recording of the webinar.