anchor Description
The North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail will be a new trail located within Rock Creek Regional Park and the North Branch Stream Valley Park Unit and is approximately miles in length including connector trails. There are two segments of this trail. The first will connect the Lake Frank Lakeside Trail to the Emory Lane Bikeway at the intersection of Muncaster Mill Road. A parking lot will be built off of Muncaster Mill Road for trailhead parking. Improvements to the intersection of Muncaster Mill Road and Emory Lane are proposed and coordinated jointly between MC-DOT, SHA and M-NCPPC. The second segment connects the Route Bikeway to the future trail being built by the developer at the Preserve at Rock Creek.
anchor Justification
The Facility Plan was approved by the MCPB on June The trail has been recommended in multiple master plans including the Olney Master Plan, Upper Rock Creek Area Master Plan, the Countywide Park Trails Plan, the Rock Creek Regional Park Master Plan and the Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan.
anchorFiscal Note
M-NCPPC was awarded a federal pass-through Transportation Alternatives Program Grant for the amount of from the Maryland State Highway Administration in July WSSC reimbursement for disturbances in the North Branch Area.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.
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.
anchorCoordination
Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Maryland State Highway Administration, Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, M-NCPPC Department of Planning and Maryland Transportation Authority, Project Trails Hard Surface Design & Construction.