MBT proposed extension map

If you did not make it to the open house for the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) extension, there will be another chance to learn about the proposed design from DDOT at ANC 5A’s public meeting on March 25. Information about the trail is available on the project website. The WashCycle also has a nice post about the extension.

The new section will run from Brookland to Takoma, so that means that our neighborhood will finally be connected to the existing off-street trail. The new section will run along the railroad tracks from Bates Road to Fort Totten metro station, then along First Place NE, Riggs Road NE, First Street NE, and Blair Road NW. There will also be a new sidewalk on 1st Place NE by the metro station, which is a nice bonus.

The trail experience for the new section will be a bit different from the existing off-street trail because the new section will traverse three major intersections (Riggs Road, New Hampshire Avenue, and Kansas Avenue) and will not run completely alongside the train tracks as the existing off-street trail mostly does.  But, we love that progress is happening to finish the trail.

The proposed design is just a preliminary design. The final design is anticipated to be complete in 2016 and optimistically construction will begin in 2017. Comments may be sent to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.

If you support the trail or have questions, please consider coming out to ANC 5A’s meeting tonight (March 25) at 6:45 pm at UDC-CC’s Backus campus.