Updates
The Environmental Assessment (EA) required to continue the sections of the Met Branch Trail from Fort Totten to Takoma (and including the Prince George’s Connector) is now available for public comment. Click here to review and send your comments (which must be submitted by Dec. 15, 2010).
02/01/2011 I am comfortable with making adjustments to the MBT site, now that I have all my concerns met. The updates all have excerpt text because they are important and should all be seen on the homepage. However, the homepage only allows the latest six (6) updates to show. The dates in the Time Stamp section of the Write tab is what keeps them in order (of most recent). All updates, including the most recent, can be read in full on the Updates page.
5/3/10 The trail is now open from Franklin Street to New York Ave. with access points to neighborhoods at Franklin Street, the Rhode Island Ave. Shopping Center, T, S, Randolph and R Streets. A new park at S Street provides a place to lock up your bike, sit on a bench or picnic on the lawn with a lovely view of the National Shrine.
3/29/10 Almost complete! The section of the MBT currently under construction (New York Ave. to Franklin Street) is scheduled to be completed by the first of May. Large retaining walls needed due to steep slopes are being finished and the trail between R Street and New York Ave. is being graded and surfaced (a WMATA easement and permit were received in the Fall). And, another step forward for the pedestrian/bicycle bridge connection to the Rhode Island Ave. Metro station – the WMATA board has approved an easement required for the bridge. The design will be finished within the next few months however additional hurdles in the form of easements and permits remain and could slow the construction start date.
10/16/09 The trail from New York Ave. to Franklin Street is currently under construction. The segment from Franklin Street to the Rhode Island Shopping Center is open for use (however, in a few weeks we will install the landscaping and then put up the fencing and another layer of asphalt). The segment from the Shopping Center to R Street is partially paved, but full paving is awaiting the completion of a few retaining walls which are currently under construction. The segment from New York Ave. to R Street is pending finalization of a permit from WMATA.
8/6/09 DC’s young people and public artists are transforming the Metropolitan Branch Trail into a fine art space. This summer, 45 young people and six artists, sponsored by the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities Summer Youth Employment Program and directed by Albus Cavus, are creating a mural along the trail that is larger than a football field. The mural wall has been primed and grided and work on the mural itself should begin within the week.
8/1/09 Another important piece of the Metropolitan Branch Trail(MBT) is being built! The new 1.5 mile section – from New York Ave. to Franklin Street – will allow pedestrians and bikers to avoid 18 lanes of heavily traveled roadway (Florida, New York and Rhode Island Avenues). Currently, most of site the has been cleared and the retaining wall for the ramp at Franklin Street is being built.
6/8/09 Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein kicked off construction on a new section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
6/3/09 Clearing has begun on the segment from R Street north to Rhode Island Ave.
4/17/09 Clearing has begun on the segment from Rhode Island Ave. to Franklin Street.
5/21/08 Mayor Fenty, DDOT and Pepco Announce Agreement to Build Phase II of Metropolitan Branch Trail.
2/12/08 The design has begun for the bike/ped bridge connecting Rhode Island Metro Station to the trail.
