A reader asked for a status update on construction of a formal pedestrian trail between Gallatin Street NE and Galloway Street NE that will provide better access for North Michigan Park residents to the Fort Totten Metro station. I confirmed with the National Park Service (NPS) that construction will resume sometime this month in July. Trail construction began at the beginning of July 2020, but was halted just a few weeks later after the construction crew found an unexploded ordnance. Construction has been halted and the area closed off since then in order for NPS to conduct soil testing and figure out next steps to make sure it was safe to continue building the trail.
NPS previously communicated to a couple of residents in May 2021 that construction will begin again in July 2021. I confirmed with NPS yesterday June 30 that they still anticipate a July timeframe to resume construction. NPS stated in an email to me yesterday, “Yes, the trail construction is scheduled to restart later next month and the negative test results is allowing us to continue the work.”
I know that NPS has been giving various dates for resuming construction for a while now, but I think this July timeframe is the most realistic timeframe they have provided so far. So hopefully, residents will in fact see construction of the trail begin again soon.
And also a quick update on a separate, but nearby project, which is the sidewalk that is supposed to be installed on the south side of Galloway between South Dakota Avenue & 4th Street NE. NPS informed me at the end of April 2021, “DDOT just transferred the funding to Federal Highway Administration to complete the design of the sidewalk from South Dakota Avenue NE to the existing DDOT/WMATA sidewalk along Galloway Street NE. We do not have a timeline at this point when the design will be completed.” There have some been some design hiccups with this particular project. I have not followed up with NPS about this issue since that correspondence in April, but my understanding is that their posture is still the same at this point.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
I appreciate you so much. Thank you so much for being in touch with them. The work you do is so important. These people know that the community is paying attention because they know you are paying attention.
What’s going on with the major construction for the project on South Dakota Ave? The Food Court, Aldi’s….. construction stopped almost a year now.
Combo of pandemic, finalizing tenant mix, relocating residents. Back at the end of April of this year, developer stated they anticipate having more clarity in a few months (after July).