Chicago’s new 606 trail is already very popular for biking, running, and walking, in large part because it’s full of attractive landscaping and user-friendly amenities. DC would be smart to take some ideas from the 606 for upcoming changes to the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

All photos by the author.

Chicago opened the 606 in June. Also known as the Bloomingdale Trail, it stretches 2.7 miles, behind homes and under the ‘L’ — Chicago’s Metro — through four of the city’s neighborhoods.

Sapling trees and shrubs line the 606, with benches and water fountains available at major street crossings. That might explain why, even in near 90-degree heat on a recent Sunday, there was a steady stream of cyclists, runners and pedestrians using it.

Among the trail’s eye-catching features are arches over one bridge and a fake railroad truss over another.

The fake railroad truss that runs over 606.

Benches on a bridge along the 606.

One thing people who I talked to complained about is the 606’s lack of shade. However, they all acknowledged that it will correct itself as the saplings grow up.

The future 606 in 2011. What a difference a few years make!

Like the MBT did for near northeast Washington, the 606 has created a new off-street transportation corridor in Chicago’s cycling and trail network where none existed before. But the 606 is also much more: it’s a public space with grassy knolls where residents can put down a towel and relax and shaded glades with benches to sit on.

The MBT could steal an idea or two

The NoMa Business Improvement District has some plans to improve the MBT. These include a small park just south of where it passes under New York Avenue, new gardens and neighborhood connection and safety improvements.

Using the 606 gave me a few ideas on how to make the MBT both more pleasant and inviting.

Benches on the bridge where the MBT crosses Florida Avenue NE could create a new vista of the never-ending traffic drama around the so-called Dave Thomas Circle.

Water fountains could go in at key intersections, like at R Street and the entrance to the bridge to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station that opened in December.

Landscaping on MBT could also get better. While young trees line part of the route, there’s room for more, especially to the stretch between R Street and Rhode Island Avenue.

In addition, regular maintenance of the existing landscaping — like cutting the grass — would do a lot to improve the aesthetics. And a better-looking trail would likely invite more users, which is important since one of the preliminary findings that the BID shared with the public was that people would feel safer on the MBT if more people used it overall.

The uncut grass along stretches of the MBT create a wild prairie aesthetic.

The MBT is set to get longer in the next few years, with the addition of a section that connects Brookland to Silver Spring. Taking a few cues from Chicago’s 606 might make both the addition and the existing trail an even better public space for the District.