One of the numerous projects contained within DC's Bike Plan is the Dalecarlia Parkway Trail (see bike plan map here). This trail would run from Westmoreland Circle (Mass Ave on the DC-Maryland line) to Loughboro Road NW and could serve as a connection between the Friendship Heights Metro and the Capitol Crescent Trail. DDOT has the money to do the trail planning this fiscal year and is looking at where to run the trail.
One question is, "on which side of Dalecarlia Parkway will the trail pass?" Since the eastern side provides a flatter topography and two opportunities to connect to neighborhood streets it seems DDOT is inclined to build on the eastern side (though the western side might be more scenic - this a transportation project, not a parks project).
Originally the plan was that the trail would then travel along Loughboro St. across MacArthur Avenue onto Norton and then down the "Secret Norton Avenue Trail" to the Capitol Crescent Trail; but Sibley Hospital is undergoing a facilities master planning process and is interested in including trail access through their property. Despite it's proximity to MacArthur Avenue and the CCT, few Sibley employees bike to work and they'd like to change that. In addition to getting the trail off the road and integrating the trail into a large area employer, the Sibley alignment also takes advantage of more gentle topography. The only downside is that it may make for a less desirable crossing of MacArthur.
The district has the right to build a sidepath along Norton but probably won't since the street has very little traffic and as for the "Secret Norton Avenue Trail," it will remain unsigned and unimproved. Not because the district hasn't the money or will to improve it, but because local residents don't want anyone to know about it, lest they begin parking in their neighborhood. They should be glad they don't live in Logan Circle.
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