The Purple Line Project announced yesterday that the Georgetown Branch Trail will close on September 5th to allow for construction of the Purple Line and the Capital Crescent Trail. The extended Capital Crescent Trail that will run in the same right of way will not open for four to five years. There is an official detour - and an unofficial one - that cyclists and pedestrians can use in the interim; but more importantly, Labor Day will be the last day that you can ride the Georgetown Branch Trail FOREVER.
So, we should do that. I'm inviting anyone who wants to attend the Georgetown Branch Bachelor Party and Final Trail Ride to join me at west end of the Air Rights Tunnel at 3pm 2:30pm on Monday, September 4th, 2017 to ride the trail one last time.
I've supported the extension of the Capitol Crescent Trail (and the Purple Line) for a long time, but I will miss the Georgetown Branch Trail as it is. The Purple Line opponents have gotten some traction in their opposition because building it means losing something - the faux nature preserve feel of the current trail - even if I and others believe that the new trail will be vastly better, albeit different. That's why I call it a bachelor party.
It's kind of like having a good friend get married. You're happy for them, you're (usually) sure they'll be better off, and yet there is a certain recognition that things won't be the same. So what else is there to do but have one last hoorah? Don't worry, there will be no strippers, just biking.
As much as I'd like to gloat about this finally getting starting and taunt the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail for their failed opposition, I'm going to try to better than that. As I see it, this is over. They put up a good fight, but in the end the project won on its merits and now it's time to move on. I'd love to work with them instead of against them. I'd love to see them put their time and energy into advocacy and support for the trail and for a better detour. It would be great to see them evolve into a more traditional "Friends of" group, sponsoring events, clean-ups and community-driven trail improvements while advocating for the best possible trail. So even though I would still pay $50 for a photo of Ajay Bhatt on the future Purple Line, I really hope to see him out on the new trail, perhaps at a 5k he organized.
Until then, and starting on Tuesday, trail users will be redirected to the detour. There's supposed to be a "detailed map" of the official detour here, but so far I don't see it. There is this, which shows it relying heavily on Jones Bridge Road.
This route is not ideal because "the planners were hamstrung on what route they could choose for the interim trail because the Town of Chevy Chase has so far refused to allow the county to use its streets....The interim route does not include installation of new cycling infrastructure—such as separated bike lanes—and depends on riders and walkers using the signs to guide themselves while traveling the route." Here is a place where FoCCT could redirect their efforts (once the lawsuit is done, of course).
And here's a different route, described going west:
From Candy Cane Village in Rock Creek just south of E-W Highway: Ride up the hill on Woodbine (next to Rollingwood School); turn left onto Brookville Road at the top; ride about 2/3 mile to Raymond Street and turn right, which will carry you to Connecticut Avenue, where you can cross at a light. Continue past Chevy Chase Elementary, through the circle and onto Stanford Street heading west. Turn right on East Street when you get to it, bend around onto Leland and cross Wisconsin (again at a light). In 200 yards you'll be at the CCT rear entrance.
Or a map of it can be found here.
Perhaps someone should create some unofficial signage to guide people along this detour (or a better one if people can come up with one).
Until then, we still have a few days left on the current trail. See you on September 4th!
Wish I could join you but I am having surgery on my foot.
I took photos of the trail a few weeks ago....I'd be happy to share those.
Posted by: Brett Young | August 30, 2017 at 08:24 AM
A great idea, I'll have to see if I can make it.
Posted by: Greg Sanders | August 30, 2017 at 01:54 PM
I added this to the calendar here:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=vss0aloebi85u9dc9shihueg0o%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York
Posted by: Steve O | August 30, 2017 at 02:52 PM
One improvement to the detour would be to turn right on Spencer immediately after crossing E-W Highway. There is a footbridge over the creek that allows one to cut off several blocks. It's narrow, so deferring to walkers is necessary, but it's shorter and requires fewer turns.
Posted by: Steve O | August 30, 2017 at 03:00 PM
Sorry to miss this ride since my office door is a hundred yards from the Stewart Ave trail entrance and I've relied on the trail since it opened. Does anyone have a link to info on the construction timeline for the Purple Line? It seems a bit much to close the trail for the entire five years when it only comprises three miles of the full 16 mile rail line.
Posted by: Riley | September 01, 2017 at 10:21 AM
I don't know of a timeline, but I think the general idea is that the trail will be closed, then the Purple Line built, then the Capital Crescent Trail - which might explain the long gap.
Posted by: Washcycle | September 01, 2017 at 10:27 AM
I'm sorry to have missed a last ride on the trail. I think Audubon Naturalist Society struck the right tone, even if I am a touch bothered by their being in Chevy Chase and lacking a bikeshare station.
https://anshome.org/2017/08/purple-line-statement/
Posted by: Ren | September 07, 2017 at 11:21 AM