Elevated 'rails with trails' project in the works for North Lawndale

A new linear greenway with trails and other public amenities similar to The 606 could be headed to an underutilized railway corridor in the North Lawndale community on Chicago's West Side.

City officials are eying a two-mile stretch of the CSX-owned Altenheim right-of-way for the "rails with trails" project, which would run east-west north of Roosevelt Road between Kostner and California avenues. The proposal would utilize unused portions of the Altenheim right-of-way where the tracks have been removed. The corridor's remaining tracks would remain in operation. 

The proposed greenway would connect with the city's boulevard system (Independence Blvd. would be a likely access point) and provide "off-street pedestrian and bike connections to other neighborhood destinations", the city said. Specific details such as the project's design, construction schedule, maintenance needs, amenities, and funding have yet to be determined.

A so-called Altenheim Line Planning Study is being drafted by the city with the coordination of the departments of Planning and Development (DPD), Transportation (CDOT), Housing (DOH), and the offices of Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24th) and Ald. Jason Ervin (28th). According to officials, the project would be part of a "comprehensive vision for residential, commercial, and industrial redevelopment" in the area which includes the INVEST South/West development site at 3400 W. Ogden Avenue.

The planning team will host several community meetings to gather feedback to help form a community-driven framework plan for the proposed Lawndale Line. The first meeting will take place Thursday, August 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Douglass Park Fieldhouse (1401 S. Sacramento Drive). The city will share additional materials and meeting dates as they become available.