College Park Trolley Trail Expansion

Though it doesn't appear to be mentioned in any of the papers, today when I drove by the CPTT on my way to REI, I noticed that Phase II is done. This section isn't technically a trail, since it's all bike lane, but it's well marked with both paint and signs. While it's narrow in some spots, it's still nicer than just a shoulder. The new section runs along Rhode Island Avenue from Greenbelt Road to Paducah Road, which is just outside the beltway. It also includes some cutaways in the curbs so you don't have to slow down. Phase III, which pushes the trail south to Albion road has already been approved. As mentioned before the rail bed this trail is built on is part of the old Washington to Laurel trolley. It's feasible this trail could someday run from Hyattsville all the way to Beltsville, but phase III is the only expansion approved right now.

Comments

[Rob Oppenhein]

Riverdale Park and Hyattsville hope to turn more of this abandoned trolley line into a hiker-biker trail extending the College Park Trolley Trail.
 
We are showing a movie clip from the 1950s of a trolley car rolling along this line through My Rainier, Hyattsville, Riverdale and College Park. The movie clip is a delightful quick peak into our past (just 12 minutes long).
 
After the movie there will be a short 10-minute Q&A, then we'll take a walk (weather permitting) and identify some landmarks from the film and see where this hiker-biker trail might run. Come dressed for the outdoor hike. The whole event will take less than an hour.
 
When: Saturday, Feb 3, 2007, 3 p.m.
Where: S&J Restaurant in Riverdale Park Town Center,  6108 Rhode Island Ave and Queensbury Rd.
 
It should be fun and educational (no charge). Dress is very casual - weekend hike-in-the-woods casual.
 
We hope to see you there. Please pass this along to anyone that might be interested.
 
- Mayor Vernon Archer and Council Member Rob Oppenheim, Riverdale Park
 
 
P.S. In the movie, we board the streetcar (line #82) at 4th St NW and Rhode Island Ave. Here the trolley runs up the middle of Route One. We see a few sites, such as the railroad underpass, the loop in Mt.Rainier (terminal cafe), and a bit of downtown Hyattsville.
 
And from Hyattsville the trolley car follows alongside the railroad tracks into Riverdale Park, where we get a glimpse of the Riverdale Park town center from the late 1950s - including the S&J restaurant where we will be viewing the movie. We then see the trolley continuing north thru Riverdale and College Park.
 

I was running in College Park south of the metro station recently, and it looked to me like part of the "southern extention" is complete. I had been on it a couple of years back and the existing path was narrow (maybe 3' wide) and cracked. It has been repaved to standard bike path width with nice curb cuts in the residential section south of Calvert Rd. No work has been done, as far as I can tell, between Calvert Rd and Paint Branch Parkway.

[Rob Oppenhein]

Opps, A minor mistake. I should have said NE and not NW..."In the movie, we board the streetcar (line #82) at 4th St NE and Rhode Island Ave."