Current Status
As of late 2006
A major recent development was the acquisition of the vacant lots adjacent to the embankment at Albany and Whipple. Trust for Public Land worked with the City and FBT to secure this property with the idea that it will become a future pocket park and access point to the Trail.
The City of Chicago is supportive of the Trail. The City’s Department of Planning and Development and Trust for Public Land have joined Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail as the lead organizations in the overall effort to see the Trail built.
The Trail has been included in several plans, including the Logan Square Open Space Plan and the Quality of Life Plan.
Completed Activities
Environmental assessments are underway, but are not yet completed. According to Chicago Deparment of Transportation, the Trail is “cleaner than you would expect for a railroad,” meaning, despite the years of use and potential for the soil to be saturated with harmful pollutants associated with the movement of freight, a major environmental cleanup is unlikely.
An assessment of the viaduct priorities and costs has also been completed—many if not all of the existing viaducts will need to be replaced in the course of construction.
