anchor Description
This project provides for the funding of the Capital Crescent trail, including the main trail from Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda to Silver Spring as a largely 12-foot-wide hard-surface hiker-biker path, connector paths at several locations, a new bridge over Connecticut Avenue, a new underpass beneath Jones Mill Road, a new tunnel beneath Wisconsin Avenue, supplemental landscaping and amenities, and lighting at trail junctions, underpasses, and other critical locations.
anchorEstimated Schedule
The surface trail is scheduled for construction in FY21. In FY20, the schedule was revised again based on actual progress and MTA's latest revised cash flow projection. Construction of the tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue to start beyond the six years due to fiscal capacity. To provide an alternative approach, the County has requested that the State consider single-tracking through the Purple Line tunnel, freeing up space for the trail at considerable cost savings.
anchor Justification
This trail will be part of a larger system to enable non-motorized traffic in the Washington, DC region. This trail will connect to the existing Capital Crescent Trail from Bethesda to Georgetown, the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Silver Spring to Union Station, and the Rock Creek Bike Trail from northern Montgomery County to Georgetown. The trail will serve pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers, and skaters, and will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Bethesda CBD Sector Plan, and the Purple Line Functional Master Plan. The project will help the County achieve its Vision Zero goals to reduce deaths and serious injuries on County roadways to zero by 2030.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.
anchorCoordination
Maryland Transit Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Bethesda Bikeway and Pedestrian Facilities, Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, CSX Transportation, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Special Capital Projects Legislation [Bill No. 32-14] was adopted by Council by June 17, 2014.