Years ago, I worked to get the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) to complete a feasibility study for a shared-use path connecting Cheverly to the Anacostia River Trail (ART). The study showed that a permanent path is feasible, but expensive—due to utility relocations, right-of-way impacts, and the need to cross the CSX rail line.
This route would run along Kenilworth briefly and go from the PepsiCo building to the ART.
When a neighbor reached out to me saying there was a MDOT grant program that could fund an interim connection using jersey barriers, paint, and signage, I immediately got involved. He was already working with MNCPPC on a draft proposal.
The goal now is to get Cheverly and Bladensburg to both sign onto the proposal to increase the odds of winning the grant. Though the discussion are still young, the understanding is that the “local match” would be covered by another party. So this would be at no cost to the town.
The proposed route would run south on 52nd, crossing Kenilworth Avenue and connecting near the service entrance to the ART just south of Aggregate Industries. This route is safer and more direct than the alternative (going north on 52nd and crossing Kenilworth there).
Whether this grant is awarded or not, I’m committed to getting Cheverly connected to the regional trail network in ways that are both realistic now and transformational later.
I’ll post an update once the application is submitted and reviewed.