This project provides for the funding of the Capital Crescent trail, including the main trail from Elm Street Park 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, supplemental landscaping and amenities, and lighting at trail junctions, underpasses, and other critical locations.

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 County will continue to coordinate with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to identify options to build a sidewalk or path alongside the Purple Line beneath Wisconsin Avenue and the Air Rights and Apex buildings in Bethesda. If the County and the MTA identify feasible options, the County will consider adding them to the scope of this project in the future. This project also supports the County Executive's Vision Zero initiative which aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on all roads.

The project schedule and cost estimates were updated in FY17 as a result of the MTA's proposed public-private partnership for the Purple Line and reflects the actual bid by the Concessionaire. The expenditure schedule also reflects a negotiated cash flow arrangement with MTA for FY17-19, allowing a deferral of $3 million per year to FY20-22.

A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.

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.