It's been 21 years (and counting) since D.C. developed plans to build the Metropolitan Branch Trail's eight mile northern segment. The delayed project threatens the city's goal of increasing the proportion of biking and walking trips to 25 percent.
"Twenty-one years after plans were first devised -- and seven years after D.C.'s bike master plan called for its completion -- a planned eight mile bicycling and walking trail that may eventually connect Union Station and Silver Spring is still years away from being finished," reports Martin DiCaro.
Though the Metropolitan Branch Trail was the scene of an unprovoked attack this summer, it remains a popular bike route and a centerpiece of efforts to increase biking and walking mode share within the city.
"The issue is not money," explains DiCaro. "When construction eventually begins, DDOT has funding programmed into its budget to finish the eight-foot wide trail within Washington, whose completed southern segment (1.5 miles from Union Station to the Brookland neighborhood) sees 15,000 bicyclists and pedestrians per month. The biggest unresolved issue remains property conflicts near the Fort Totten Metro station: the Met Branch Trail must navigate a municipal trash transfer station, privately-owned railroad tracks and a concrete factory, onto National Park Service property and around land owned by Metro."
FULL STORY: First Envisioned 21 Years Ago, a D.C. Biking and Walking Path Remains Unfinished
MLK Jr. Drive in Philadelphia Closed to Motor Vehicles During Pandemic
The closure will give cyclists and pedestrians a safe roadway to use while maintaining social distancing.
‘Nudging’ Durham Commuters Toward More Sustainable Modes of Travel
Behavioral science is informing the city’s efforts to change the way people commute.
Downtown Bike Lanes Disappear from Plan for Oklahoma City Boulevard
Plans for an Oklahoma City Boulevard have used bike lanes in all their design and promotional materials, but now that the job has been awarded to a contractor, the lanes have disappeared.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research