Planning on the Rhode Island Trolley Trail, to be built from Tuckerman to Farragut streets, continues, with construction expected to start in early summer or late fall.

The trail will stretch two miles, will be 11 feet wide, except in sections where it will be separated by utility poles.  Its construction could cost about $400,000, which will be covered by parks and planning.  All future maintenance costs will be the Riverdale Park’s responsibility, Councilwoman Alice Ewen (Ward 1) said.

The trail is expected to be mostly asphalt, though one break in the trail due to previously developed lots will send cyclists through a parking lot, and pedestrians along a sidewalk, before meeting up with the paved area again, Eileen Nivera of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission said.

Planners still need to obtain several quitclaim deeds —or when the owner transfers interest from their property to the planners — from property owners near the trail in order to secure the right of way needed to begin construction. 

"Because it was an abandoned railroad’s right of way, in the county records, it doesn't recognize anybody owning it, so we have to establish ownership” through the quitclaim deeds, Nivera explained.

“There has been a great interest in this trail already,” she said.  “Whenever I’m out there, people are either walking or riding their bikes already on [what is] basically a dirt path.”  Nivera expects that the activity along the trail will only grow when it is paved and completed.

Ewen agreed. She believes the increased pedestrian and cyclist traffic will also increase the safety, since there is safety in numbers.

Lighting for the trail is not part of the budget, but none of the other trails built by Parks and Planning have lighting, Ewen said. 

The trail, which will run parallel to Route 1, will offer safer and more pleasant commuter route than biking or walking on the street, Ewen added.   It will also provide access to areas such as the Riverdale Park Farmers’ Market.