Metropolitan Branch Trail to Get an Upgrade
In September, the Maryland Department of Transportation announced that the City of Takoma Park was awarded a grant to complete the technical plans for full upgrade of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT).
The $465,000 award through the state’s Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program will build on the preliminary design efforts completed in June 2023. The preliminary designs propose widening and resurfacing the existing trail, which currently does not meet Montgomery County or industry standards for a high-volume trail of its type.
The design also proposes a number of amenity changes. One is the addition of new pedestrian-scale lighting to improve comfort and safety after sunset. The new design also proposes relocating the crosswalk at Takoma and Buffalo Avenues to the western leg of the intersection to reduce the number of crossings required to get from the trail to Belle Ziegler Park.
To reduce the distance needed to cross the street and make pedestrians more visible, curb bump outs are proposed, and the new crossing suggests the exploration of whether a stop sign would be appropriate, in addition to a raised crosswalk. The whole project would explore opportunities for improved stormwater management infrastructure and new striping and wayfinding signage on the trail.
The city manages a nearly half-mile section of the MBT, which will eventually extend eight miles, end-to-end, between Silver Spring and Union Station in D.C. The trail roughly follows the Metropolitan Branch Line of the B&O Railroad, now used by Metro, Amtrak, and commuter trains and freight rail carriers. The City’s portion of the trail will intersect with new sections that connect to the Fort Totten Metro in D.C. and to the Silver Spring Transit Center. Both are currently under development and are expected to begin construction between now and summer 2025.
The next steps for the Takoma Park project include the finalization of the funding agreement with the state. Upon selection of a contractor, additional rounds of community engagement will be initiated to refine the preliminary designs and advance the project toward semifinal designs, which begin to cement the components of the project and begin necessary analyses, such as a tree inventory, stormwater management assessments, and inventories of impacts on utilities. To learn more about the project, and follow along with its progress, visit bit.ly/takomaparkmbt .
Check out the full December Newsletter on the City of Takoma Park Newsletter page.
