CDOT trail projects create off-street shared-use corridors that bring new recreational facilities and public spaces to communities. Trails create safe outdoor places for people to walk, jog, bike, and skate while also providing an alternative transportation system within Chicago’s and the region’s expanding bike network. Trails offer numerous benefits to communities including health, transportation, economic, environmental, and social benefits.

The Weber Spur Trail is a “rails to trails” project on the far north side of Chicago that proposes to convert a 2-mile, 40 to 100-foot-wide Union Pacific right-of-way to a multi-use trail. The proposed grade separated trail, diagonal to the city grid, proposes to provide key connections in the bicycle network.  It will connect  Sauganash Valley Line Trail,  to the Union Pacific Recreation Path, North Branch Trail, and Elston Avenue crosstown spoke route; and will connect the North Branch Trail and the Union Pacific Recreation Path to the Elston Ave Crosstown Spoke route.

Weber Spur trail runs from Devon Avenue and Springfield Avenue in the northeast to Elston Avenue and Kimberly in the southwest.

CDOT is currently working on the Phase I Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study to:

• Convert the former railroad into a shared use path.
• Connect the Weber Spur Trail into the city’s multi-use transportation, recreation, park, and social infrastructure.