[WardFive] FYI: DDOT to Begin Metropolitan Branch Trail Extension

Neighbors – please see below for an announcement from the D.C. Department of Transportation:

 

From: DC Government [mailto:dcdocs@dc.gov]
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2017 9:13 AM
To: Treadway, Nolan (Council) <ntreadway@DCCOUNCIL.US>
Subject: DDOT Press Release: DDOT to Begin Metropolitan Branch Trail Extension

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 2, 2017   Media Contacts Terry Owens — (202) 763-8635, terry.owens@dc.gov Maura Danehey — (202) 306-1668, Maura.Danehey@dc.gov DDOT to Begin Metropolitan Branch Trail Extension Extension will connect Brookland to Fort Totten (Washington, DC) —  On October 31, 2017, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued the 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 multiuse 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.   ###   The mission of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment.    Follow us on Twitter for transportation-related updates and more; like us on Facebook and visit the website at www.ddot.dc.gov. Visit goDCgo.com for more information on transportation options in the District.