Construction has begun on the last section of the Rhode Island Ave Trolley Trail

Image courtesy of MV + A Architects.

This week, officials at Riverdale Park Station along with local, county and state officials broke ground on the Residences at Riverdale Park Station, and with it the last section of the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. (I believe it's that bit of pavement in the bottom right corner of the image above).

The building is building number 5 on the picture below and the section of the trail to be built with it is the one-block long section adjacent to it, between Woodbury and Van Buren. While this technically completes the trail, trail users can currently use Rhode Island Avenue and the sidewalk alongside it to cover this block, so its completion won't suddenly close a gap. But, it will make that bit of trail nicer.

Reportedly, they plan to get that section of the trail open early in the process. 

[Though not along the trail, they're also proposing putting a former trolley car next to the building to the east of the trail and using it for a restaurant. And they want to push it up to seven stories from six.]

Not a part of Riverdale Park Station, but the next steps for the trail are to extend it south to the Anacostia Tributary Trail and north to the ICC Trail. At least one of those are officially planned. 

Comments

[Beltsville]

I doubt that the RI Trolley Trail will get extended to the ICC any time within the next ten years (or ever), but I am solidly hoping that it does! Unfortunately, they've lost ROW near the Beltsville MVA.

[Purple Eagle]

Currently the section of Rhode Island Ave that can be used as a detour for the missing link is one-way features one-way flow around the "village green". Although traffic is fairly light now and you can usually scoot through the wrong direction. Also there is a large change in pavement elevation (at least an inch) where the trail ends from the south.

[Fernmug]

Hmmm. The title of this piece got me excited, but then... Meh. In the towns with the Trolley Trail, when the locals talk about the "last section" to be finished, they usually mean the run between Franklins to Armentrout Drive (where the River Trail passes).

[washycle]

I'm doubtful about extending the trail north too - but it is in the 2009 PG County bike plan. The MVA isn't nearly as difficult as what's north of there, but getting north will mean a bike path along US-1.

Fernmug, I think the connector on the south end is more of an add-on to the trail and not a part of it, but I can see why that would be more exciting.

[Adam]

Ugg I totally thought this would be about closing the gap on the south end, connecting it to the Anacostia trails. :'(

*stares dejectedly out window

[Beltsville]

Adam, don't give up hope - SHA has given their buy-off. Last I heard, waiting on CSX........
http://hyattsvillelife.com/sha-gives-update-on-trolley-trail-progress/

[Beltsville]

Washcycle, if this is the plan you're referring to, then the facilities mentioned are basically already built. There already is a "mup" along Route 1 from just north of Indian Creek to Ritz Way but it's surprisingly dangerous due to road crossings (ESPECIALLY AT THE MVA), and the bike lanes along Konterra Avenue are constructed and fantastic (PG County needs to sweep their roads though).

It's also extremely dangerous crossing Indian Creek - they need to change the guard rails over the stream to make it safer for non-vehicles.

[Beltsville]

And I forgot the link...
http://www.pgparks.com/DocumentCenter/View/1696/Countywide-Master-Plan-of-Transportation-Bikeways-and-Trails-PDF?bidId=

[washcycle]

Oh yeah look at that, though it does dead end at Indian Creek and they need a connection on Ritz Way. So maybe I'm more hopeful.