Funded in FY22 by a Maryland Local Parks and Playgrounds grant earmarked by the State of Maryland for the "Pepco Powerline Trail project," this project will design, construct, and equip portions of the ultimate 13-mile paved and natural surface trail within the Pepco powerline corridor that connects South Germantown Recreational Park to Cabin John Regional Park as well as community and park connectors along the corridor. Improvements include grading, paving, trail signage, Vision Zero road crossings, Stormwater Management (SWM), drainage improvements, bridges, boardwalks, environmental restoration, amenities (i.e. drinking fountains, benches, trailheads), etc. along priority segments between Muddy Branch SVP and Cabin John Regional Park. While this project will only build a portion of the paved trail section, preliminary engineering will be completed for full buildout. Trail design will use Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Outdoor Recreation Guidelines and American Association of State Highway and Transportation standards while protecting natural resources.

Thrive Montgomery 2050 envisions a world-class trail network that is integrated into transportation planning and connecting residents to jobs and centers of activity. The 2015 Pepco/Exelon merger agreement granted access to transmission line property for recreational and transportation use by the public. This northwest to southeast corridor connects existing natural surface stream valley park trails and contributes to east-west trail connectivity which is rare in the county. Trails, connectors, improvements, signage, trailheads, and amenities increase trail usage for recreation and promote walking and biking as alternatives to vehicular transportation. In park user surveys, hiking and biking on trails is the most frequent recreation activity reported. Biking and walking paths top respondents' lists of desired facilities or greatest facility shortages. This project also implements goals and objectives of the 2017 Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan and the 2016 Countywide Park Trails Plan. M-NCPPC was awarded a FY24 State Bond Bill of $1,700,000.

A pedestrian impact analysis will be performed during design or is in progress. M-NCPPC asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.

State of Maryland, Montgomery County Department of Transportation , Exelon and other utilities, Maryland Department of the Environment, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Pepco, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Trails: Hard Surface Design & Construction (P768673), Trails: Hard Surface Renovation PDF (P888754), Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services