On October 31, 2017, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued to Potomac Construction Company a Notice to Proceed for the design-build construction of the next phase of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The new trail will connect the existing trail from John McCormack Drive in Brookland to the Fort Totten Metro Station. This is the next major milestone toward the completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
The Metropolitan Branch Trail will be an 8-mile multi-use trail that connects Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring, Maryland. The new trail segment will provide a direct off-street route for bicyclists and pedestrians traveling through the Fort Totten area. It will include LED lighting, security cameras, and way-finding signage, and permeable pavement, along with bio-retention facilities, which are similar to rain gardens.
Using a design-build process for construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail streamlines the final design process and construction, which is expected to be conducted, weather permitting, within the next 18 months. For more information about the Metropolitan Branch Trail, visit metbranchtrail.com.
This announcement demonstrates the continued effort on the part of DDOT to complete the District’s major trails and close key gaps. DDOT recently completed another upgrade to the Oxon Run Trail in Ward 8. The Oxon Run Trail project created new connections to Oxon Run Park and surrounding neighborhoods and included installation of new benches, tables, bicycle racks, and LED lighting. The project also uses porous pavement and additional green infrastructure to improve water quality in Oxon Run.
For a full copy of this announcement, please see https://ddot.dc.gov/release/ddot-begin-metropolitan-branch-trail-extension
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