Washington, D.C.: Metropolitan Branch Trail

Two Wheels are Sometimes Better than Four

Challenge: If you have spent any time in Washington, D.C. you know getting around by car is no easy task. A 10-mile commute can take over an hour. That is why about 2,000 people use the city’s Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) each day. First conceived in the late 1980’s, the full vision of connecting Union Station near Capitol Hill with Silver Spring, Md. has been implemented in phases since 2000. Neighborhoods in the northern parts of the city and the suburbs of Maryland are the latest to receive these safe biking and pedestrian options.

The Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure investment law, D.C. is working to realize this vision. The plan calls for completing the MBT, adding safety enhancements and green infrastructure, eventually creating eight miles of continuous, dedicated bike and pedestrian trail. In addition, the trail will have traffic calming features including new traffic signals at major roadway intersections, pedestrian refuge islands, and safe and efficient LED Streetlighting.