Fast Facts
- In the first full year of operation, the trail averaged 3,531 trips per day, with a high of 10,365 trips in a single day.
- Overall, an estimated 3.7 million miles were traveled on The 606 in 2016.
- 64% of cyclists on the trail weekday mornings and evenings are using it for transportation.
- The 606 is integrated into Chicago’s transit network, with 6 train stations and 10 bus routes within 2 blocks of the trail and 2 bikeshare stations along the trail.
Chicago’s 606 is the world’s first raised, multi-use trail and is a prime example of multi-use infrastructure. By investing in a park that can be used for a range of purposes and multiple times of day, precious public dollars are spent more wisely.
The Bloomingdale Line was a 20th-century engineering marvel, moving freight safely and speedily above grade. But when the rail line fell into disrepair, Chicagoans saw the opportunity for different innovation, this one to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and link the neighborhoods the rail line had divided: the world’s first elevated, multi-use trail. Today, The 606 is an active transportation superhighway, linking four parks (with two more in development), bikeshare and transit stations, restaurants, schools, and businesses. The 606 is a prime example of how infrastructure can serve multiple purposes.
