If you've ridden the current Met Branch Trail in DC you may have noticed that there is a gap between the on-street portion on 8th St NE and the sidepath along John McCormack Drive NE (aside: is the road named for this John McCormack?). Currently the interim route goes on Monroe, 7th and the driveway to the Metro station along Michigan Avenue. But soon, the site of the old Monroe Hall will become the Arts Walk, part of a massive redevelopment of the Catholic University's South Campus. And part of that will include a one block section of the MBT.
On the drawing on the right, you can see the MBT as it starts at the top to the left of the tree line and continues down between the tree line and the narrower building and then turns west along Monroe Avenue.
DCMud reported yesterday that the project got a bit closer to groundbreaking as developers have secured enough funding to move forward next spring. The Arts Walk will be the first of several sections built, so cyclists will be riding the trail earlier rather than later. They also reported that the project has submitted raze permits for other buildings in the area that will constitute later phases of the project.
When the original MBT Concept Plan, it included an option to run the trail under Monroe through a tunnel (page 5-12). Since it isn't being included here, it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
Maybe they could swap this plaque around to face the other way so that someone could actually read it. Who knew Charles Drew had a bridge in DC named after him?
Also, WABA is keeping an eye on the project.
Grammar police: "their is gap"? Good grief. Cyclists write as good as they drive (I say with my tongue in my cheek).
Posted by: Liz | August 21, 2010 at 12:43 PM
I've fixed it, but I don't feel too bad since the Post ran an article, on the front page, with a headline that read "For Pakistanis the worse may be still to come" (emphasis mine). So, I'm still doing better than them.
Posted by: washcycle | August 21, 2010 at 09:04 PM
this is low hanging fruit. who care about this connection? dumb.
what about an at grade route past fort totten metro station and onto silver spring? THAT is what needs addressing... the met branch trail is a joke...
Posted by: steve morse | August 22, 2010 at 10:28 AM
This is another piece of the puzzle, and I, for one, care.
The development will also probably include a bike shop, which might be bigger than the trail section.
As for the Fort Totten section, that is the piece currently under design.
Posted by: washcycle | August 22, 2010 at 10:58 AM