 Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs
Trails Program
The District Department of Transportation is committed to providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the city through the creation of a network of interconnected trails.
 
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
A key component of the revitalization of the Anacostia waterfront is the Riverwalk Trail. The 16-mile trail network will extend from the Potomac River to the Maryland border, enhancing recreation, transportation, and economic development in the Anacostia corridor.
View a fact sheet* on the proposed trail, complete with map and schedule.
The design of the trail is set to begin in the fall of 2006. The entire trail will be complete in 2012, with new sections coming on line each year.
As we design and build a permanent trail, we have developed an interim route and map* that follows streets along the proposed trail corridor. You can take a self-guided tour of much of the trail corridor by following the signs.
For more information, contact Allen Miller of DDOT at 671-4678.
 Marvin Gaye Park Trail
The trail in Watts Branch Park (now Marvin Gaye Park) was first constructed in 1978, based on a plan developed by community residents. At 1.6 miles, it is the longest city-managed trail in the District.
The Watts Branch corridor has always been important to the District's transportation network. One of the early electric streetcar lines ran along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, and the Chesapeake Beach rail line originated at the eastern end of the park. Over the years, the trail has fallen into disrepair. In 1997, the non-profit group Washington Parks and People began working with nearby neighborhoods to revitalize the park and trail, holding volunteer cleanups and social events.
In 2001, the District Depanment of Transportalion (DDOT) identified the Watts Branch Trail for improvements under the National Recreational Trails program of the Federal Highway Administration. Design of the trail improvements began in 2003.
 Metropolitan Branch Trail
The Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is a proposed 8-mile multi-use trail that will run from Silver Spring in Maryland to Union Station in the District of Columbia. It will connect to the Capital Crescent Trail, the Anacostia Tributaries Trail System and the National Mall, and will be part of the East Coast Greenway. The MBT will be an important recreation and transportation route and will provide direct access to seven of Metro’s Red Line stations.
In 2005, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) developed the concept plan for the 7 miles of the trail within District boundaries. Currently, sections of the trail along 2nd Street, NE, at the New York Ave. Metro Station, and along John McCormack Road have been built. The section from New York Avenue to Franklin Street is currently under construction.
For more information about the MBT, please see the construction manager’s weekly updates or visit the website www.metbranchtrail.com or call the DDOT project manager at (202) 671-2638.
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the District to develop and maintain trails and trail-related facilities. Community members are welcome to submit ideas for trail projects to the Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee meets every other month to review applications, make recommendations and to review the status of ongoing projects. To have your trail project reviewed by the community, please read and fill out the application information below.
- Overview
- Application Overview
- Application Form* (note: you can type directly into the form and then save it, email it and/or print it)
Garfield Park–Canal Park Connector
The goal of the Garfield Park - Canal Park Connector is to improve the bicycle and pedestrian passage under the Southeast Freeway at 2nd Street, SE; making this linkage into a functional and attractive route between Capitol Hill and Near Southeast.
* This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing.
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