Sterling Bay Deal With Railroad Paves The Way To Extend The 606 To Lincoln Yards
Sterling Bay's plans for Lincoln Yards in the North Branch Industrial Corridor include a new Metra station and an extension of the 606 across the Chicago River. The extension inched closer to becoming a reality after Sterling Bay and a railroad company agreed to work together to turn a railroad right of way into a bike trail, Crain's Chicago Business reports.
A dispute between Sterling Bay and Iowa Pacific Holdings started last September. Iowa Pacific owns railroad tracks along the Chicago River, leading in to Goose Island. Iowa Pacific moved a couple of dozen empty tanker cars on to the tracks, drawing the ire of Sterling Bay and other property owners. Sterling Bay filed a complaint with the federal Surface Transportation Board to force Iowa Pacific to cede the tracks. Iowa Pacific backed down in January.
Sterling Bay, Iowa Pacific and the city are now working together on an agreement to turn the railroad right of way into a bike path. Currently, the 606 ends at Ashland Avenue at the Kennedy expressway. Extending it to Lincoln Yards would provide a direct connection for bicyclists and pedestrians from Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Bucktown and Logan Square to the North Branch Industrial Corridor. Lincoln Yards is one of 10 sites in Chicago's bid to land Amazon's second headquarters.
