DOT just announced today that DC and Maryland have won a TIGER grant to build the section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail from Benning Road to the existing trail in PG County. This is a big win and will create a critical new connection between DC and Maryland.
TIGER funds will complete four missing miles of bicycle and pedestrian paths on the Kenilworth Gardens Trail, connecting hundreds of miles of existing trail networks in Maryland and DC. This path will create new options for bicycle commuters and bring economic and health benefits to communities along the trail. The overall project includes the construction of five bridges, raised pathways, and multi-use paths. It will connect 16 waterfront neighborhoods to the Anacostia River, as well as the Southwest Waterfront, the Nationals baseball stadium, the Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, the National Arboretum, and other popular destinations.
This multi-use bicycle and pedestrian project will enhance safety by providing cyclists with facilities that are removed from vehicular traffic. The trail will offer residents a safe and convenient alternative to driving and will help alleviate highly congested commuter corridors. The project will connect low-income neighborhoods to jobs and services in DC and Maryland while enabling bicycle and walking trips to schools, transit centers, and training and social service locations for residents east of the Anacostia River.
Fantastic! Any idea when we will have a sense of the expected timeline?
Posted by: Sam | June 22, 2012 at 01:33 PM
The last I heard was that work would begin late this year.
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/11/anacostia-river-trails-slowly-making-progress.html
Posted by: washcycle | June 22, 2012 at 01:41 PM
To those with better knowledge of the project than me - is there a conceptual alignment for a connection up the west side of the river through the golf course and the Arboretum? Or is that just too difficult?
Posted by: Dave | June 22, 2012 at 02:07 PM
The map on the official project website shows a bridge over the river from Kenilworth Gardens to the Arboretum, then along the edge between the Arbo and golf course to Maryland Ave.
Posted by: Purple Eagle | June 22, 2012 at 03:55 PM
The new bridge is what makes this useful for transportation from Bladensburg to downtown. Otherwise it is a pleasant ride but circuitous compared with Bladensburg Road to West Virginia.
Posted by: Jim Titus | June 22, 2012 at 04:05 PM
Dave, no westside route. Arboretum says they're a research facility and can't support it, and NPS says the land it owns along the river is too sensitive for a trail.
The Bridge across the Anacostia appears to be part of a later phase of the project, but I'm not 100% sure of that.
Jim, I'm going to try to use this trail to bike to Bladensburg. While it is a longer distance, it may be faster due to no TCDs (which I do often obey), hills or traffic. If it's only a little bit more time, it might be worth it for the pleasantness you describe. Let's not discount that from a transportation use.
Posted by: washcycle | June 23, 2012 at 12:58 PM
This trail connection will be fantastic for my commute! (I think.) Great news.
Posted by: Greenbelt | June 23, 2012 at 06:01 PM
I couldn't tell from the brief TIGER grant announcement -- will that $10 million be devoted to the winding segment between Benning Rd. and the existing Bladensburg path that follows around the old horse racing track (#9 on the map you posted last Nov), or the route that hugs the eastern shore of the Anacostia (#8 on that map, with or without the river crossing and the inland trail along the Arboretum)? The latter seems more direct for transportation, and probably more expensive to build in a way that protects sensitive areas -- though $10 million is a lot!
Either way, fantastic news for the whole region.
Posted by: Shalom | June 24, 2012 at 08:21 AM
I think it is #9.
Posted by: washcycle | June 24, 2012 at 05:20 PM
I am curious about the implications of this grant, with regard to budgeting, DC had previously announced that they planned to start construction on this segment in the fall. How were they planning to fund the project if they did not get the grant? Does the grant funding mean they can move more quickly into funding other segments?
Posted by: Purple Eagle | June 24, 2012 at 10:08 PM
I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE DOT IS USING MONEY TO BUILD FRIGGIN TRAILS. FIX THE DAMN POT HOLES IN OUR DECREPID ROADS, YOU DOLTS!!!
Posted by: MIKE RUTLEDGE | October 15, 2012 at 01:04 PM
Mike, unfortunately what they really need to fix potholes are capital letters. And someone keeps using them before the DOT can get to them.
Posted by: washcycle | October 15, 2012 at 01:13 PM