As it wraps up the first stage of a community planning progress, Alan G. Brake checks in on the latest designs for Chicago's answer to the High Line.
At three miles, the High Line's midwestern cousin is nearly double its length. That's not all that will set apart the Bloomingdale Trail, Chicago's elevated rail line, as it transitions into a public park and recreational path. "The project is much more earth-bound than its New York predecessor with
direct connections to the city's sidewalks and neighborhood parks
system," writes Brake.
Furthermore, because the project is being funded largely through federal transportation
funds, it must accommodate cyclists as well as pedestrians. The planning team, which includes ARUP, Ross Barney Architects, and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, have worked to adress the bicycle/pedestrian interface, and other challenges in this first phase of design, which will result in a "framework plan."
According to Brake, with the first phase of the Trail scheduled to open in 2014, "a new team will take over the final design for the Parks District, with only MVVA continuing on."
FULL STORY: Bike on By
QueensWay: NYC’s Next High Line?
After 5 decades of abandonment, and recent inspiration from the much-lauded High Line, a rusty railway stretching three-and-a-half miles through central Queens may become NYC’s next elevated greenway.
All Aboard for Chicago's Massive Rail to Trail Conversion
Lisa Donovan reports that the city of Chicago has plugged a $9 million shortfall in funding required to begin construction on the long-anticipated Bloomingdale Trail project.
Chicago Financial District Doesn't Need a N.Y.C. High Line
An elevated walkway along Chicago’s LaSalle Street would not foster the vibrant street life that proponents envision.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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