The extension will cost $6.2 million, and it will be fully funded by federal reimbursement through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. However, the trail is not very bike friendly as it has far too many crossroads that require stopping to wait for traffic and/or traffic signals. All motorists very considerate. Its shaded much of the way and successfully hides the fact that it runs very close to the 202 expressway. Our cub scout troop rode the 6 mile section and added part of the unpaved "phase 2" section, parts of which requires hybrid tires until it is paved. Two of them had pedestrian yields that at least meant I could cross. 36.0 Seeking Funding TBD Paoli Pike Trail: Airport Road to Ellis Lane (Segment A) Multi-use trail along Paoli Pike (0.15 miles) . Can't rate this trail until its finished but have high hopes for it. Home Planning Topics Transportation Trail Planning Chester Valley Trail Extension Study. And there is a massive hill between that area, and where the Downingtown Trail is along 322. Having said that, on the 4th of July it was easy to maintain 15 mph--we were never in a bunch-up that required us to slow down. This extension of the existing 13.5 mile trail will provide connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine Trails in the Downingtown area. This gives rise to multiple road crossings, and many are signal controlled, especially at major crossings. The trail is well used by walkers and bikers on weekdays but there was not so much traffic to make it feel crowded. The Chester Valley Trail currently runs from Exton, in Chester County, to the Schuylkill Expressway in King of Prussia. The county is looking for funding to construct a roughly $8 million to $10 million trail bridge over Germantown Pike to continue the trail into Whitemarsh. On hot days, we can detour to Wegmans and grab a cold snack. A great 14 mile trail that you can make longer or shorter to suit your needs. I'm wondering what the thoughts are. This trail is paved, 12 feet in width, and will eventually be 22 miles long. Constantly looking over my shoulder for cyclists. 100 intersection is not worth crossing --> 3 crossings, plus the trail west of it is both short & ugly (1 mile round trip). It runs too close to major highways making it quite noisy in spots. Ran to the left after parking. :( OK so NOW the GOOD! Pretty flat. Good track to work on your speed. This trail does track w/ R-202 along KoP which can get pretty noisy but for the most part its pretty quiet, hence the 4 stars, not 5. The CVT gets a bit dense with crossings, cars and highway noise at either end. About the Trail Formed in 1850 by the Philadelphia and Reading Company, the Chester Valley Railroad stretched 22 miles between Bridgeport and Downingtown.The Chester Valley Trail will generally follow a now-abandoned rail corridor and will connect Chester County's Struble Trail in Exton with Montgomery County's Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown.Chester County is expecting to extend the . We walked our bikes across the 3 intersections around the work since we were determined to get to the end of the trail. The good news for bicyclists is that the trail is flat, wide, smooth, and fairly scenic as it winds past parks, forested land, and streams. The bulk of this section parallels Commerce Drive from Iron Lake Blvd. Youll pass several small parks with picnic tables: DAmbrosia Park at 4 miles, Cedar Hollow Park at 6.6 miles, and Ecology Park at 10.1 miles. Possible alignments are looked at the Route 30 Multimodal Transportation Study. They are rarely on the trail and more so in the nearby woods. The new 3.9 miles will run through Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport Borough to Norristown, where it will then connect with the Schuylkill River Trail. A popular well kept asphalt trail of 14 miles. It really contributes to the quality of life for our residents, whether its in the form of recreation or as a commuting resource, said Bill Hartman, the countys trails and open space planning manager. It was a weekday so I did not have any problems with traffic. The park commemorates a Revolutionary War attack in 1777 that was foiled by a horrific thunderstorm that drenched the soldiers gunpowder.Another 1.3 miles ahead is Exton Park, which covers 727 acres and features a pond, picnic sites, and trails. Overall, I think CVRT is more a commuter trail than recreational trail. Click to open the map in a new window. In icy/snowy conditions the trail may be closed until parking and access areas are addressed. It then continues for an additional 1500 feet before abruptly dead-ending at a clump of bushes. Next time I'll know, but the first time was not easy. hb```}|@(a}):W{`,O2%(\zPZcGGG1b l@n 3p%X$ `a6bRV-,58'ob+Yb^%u #W! The intersection is large, so by the time you're in the middle of it, traffic is inbound and they barely slow down! bp 2 chester valley trail extension to downingtown multi-use trail x x x x x x bp 3 chester valley trail: exton to oaklands multi-use trail x x x bp 4 enola low grade extension multi-use trail x x x bp 5 struble trail extension x x x bp 6 chester valley trail west multi-use trail x x x bp 7 paoli pike trail: airport rd to line rd multi-use . Ask us a question or send an idea for a story you think we should cover. The Chester Valley Trail now stretches 13.5 miles in Chester County, from the Montgomery County border and running through Tredyffrin, East Whiteland, and West Whiteland townships. There is a parking lot off S. Warner Rd. Overall a great trail! The grounds are immaculate! This extension connects the Chester Valley Trail with the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Third, very nice long trail. As mentioned in the other reviews this trail will become a significant part of the overall Philadelphia/SE PA region trail network in the future but the immediate "phase 2" expansion begins in April 2012 and will result in 15 miles paved from Exton to King of Prussia by 2013. PDF TII Projects by Legislative District in Chester County Major Corridors They're pretty easily managed. The third required me to navigate a high traffic intersection. The 3.9-mile extension would stretch the existing 14.5-mile Chester Valley Trail, which runs from Exton in Chester County into King of Prussia. In all, we walk the dog, go for runs, ride our bikes, play on playgrounds and can even stop for a beerall while using one trail. The eastern most section was recently added which extends the trail to Montgomery county. Starting from the King of Prussia trailhead I found the trail too close to busy streets for me. A nice, flat, paved and well marked trail. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. Will definitely ride it on our next trip to PA. Much of the trail has a nice canopy of trees. Completed in 2010, this segment is already very popular with cyclists, in-line skaters, hikers, joggers, dogwalkers and parents pushing young children in strollers. On other crossings you just have to look carefully both ways. Despite helping to provide a pedestrian link between the area's many malls, shopping centers and office buildings, this segment appears to be underused. The plan is to expand this trail one mile to the west. It IS a really nice trail! The extension project also included building three new pedestrian bridges (South Gulph Road, Henderson Road, and Boro Line Road) and updating two bridges for pedestrian/bike use. First time on the trail today and loved it. Second, I love the quarter mile markers. (Courtesy Montgomery County). Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County Very well maintained with good shade. The Chester County Planning Commission has officially unveiled a recommended route for the Exton-to-Downingtown extension of the Chester Valley Trail. Found it to be much easier to run on than the Valley Forge Freedom Trail since there were far less cyclists riding at high speeds. In addition, recommendations are made for providing on and off-road connections between the P+T line, Struble Trail, and East Branch Brandywine Trail through Downingtown. Maintenance and operation east of County Line Road should be directed to Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites. Chester Valley Trail | Tredyffrin Township Some covered sections provide shade. The trail is well-maintained. 100 in the next phase and eventually all the way to Downingtown so you cannot yet gain access at Ship Rd. Instead of taking one directly across Rt 100, one is forced to divert 90 degrees away from the trail (heading northbound) to cross over Commerce Dr and then cross over Rt 100 (paralleling the trail), and then cross the opposite direction on Commerce Dr (Southward) to return to the trail on the west side of Rt 100. Complete a comprehensive feasibility study for the Chester Valley Trail. We started in King of Prussia and before long were at Wegman's in Malvern. Upper Dublin is taking the lead on designing and funding its section of the trail just over 4 miles from Pennsylvania Avenue up to Welsh Road. So the Chester Valley Trail was a site for sore (hamstrings) eyes! Chester Valley Trail - Circuit Trails Beautiful views and even have several mile of tree cover as well. It meanders through the neighborhoods behind houses and businesses. Pros - Relatively flat and straight. Anyone who knows, I would appreciate it. Please direct any questions or comments you may have to Brian Styche at bstyche@chesco.org. Yes, some slight slopes, but nothing serious. Not too difficult and the trail is shady so for an August day it wasn't too hot. One mile of trail has already been built in Montgomery County. Public Meeting #3: 'DRAFT Master Plan - Recommended Alignment' was held on May 31st, 2017 at the West Whiteland Township Main Meeting Room. My recommendation would be to drive further down (3-4 miles in the trail, around Penn medicine) and its getting quieter. This trail dose have some potential, I have no idea how is managing it. The easternmost segment, in Montgomery County, extends from Warner Road east across the Schuylkill Expressway to South Gulph Road, and was built during a major highway reconstruction project. 100 crossing, but you need to be alert. A view of the Chester Valley Trail. Definitely recommend for a family bike ride. A 3.8-mile eastward extension to Norristown opened in March 2023 and connects the trail to the Schuylkill River . We won't bother with that again. There are also many cross streets which will slow your time considerably, even though most of them are secondary roads. This proposed segment of the Chester Valley Trail would connect the currently planned terminus in Downingtown to the Enola Low Grade Trail in Lancaster County. When complete, the $6.2 million project will run 17.5 miles across the county, from the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken to the Pennypack Trail in Upper Moreland and Bryn Athyn. In the 3.1 miles out, I crossed 4 roads. This can also be viewed as a negative as I was passing people and getting passed by cyclists. Once implemented, there will be an additional 10.1 miles of trail including three new trailheads and connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine trails in the Downingtown area. I WILL be back, probably many times. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. This feasibility study and master plan will pick up where the Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown study leaves off and will identify and evaluate potential routes for extending the Chester Valley Trail (CVT) westward across the county to connect with the future 29-mile multi-use Enola Low Grade rail trail . Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown Completion of multi-use trail from Exton to Thorndale 23.0 ROW Acquisition 2024 -2030 Chester Valley Trail West Completion of trail from Downingtown to Atglen 36.0 Seeking Funding 2023 -2030 Struble Trail Extension Completion of multi -use trail from Marsh Creek State Park to Reeds Road . Chester County is expecting to extend the trail into Downingtown. There is lots of green space on both sides of the trail so that most of the time you don't realize that you are in the middle of quite a built-up area. This trails brings me such joy! The Chester Valley Trail is also part of the Circuit Trails, a developing 800-mile urban network of trails in Greater Philadelphia, of which about 350 miles are complete. I ride on the trail too, but I don't understand why bikers choose to break the speed limit rule on a trail that is so frequently used by runners and walkers - especially when it is crowded. States: Pennsylvania. I almost never give out 5 stars and never give out a single star so a three is not bad in my book. The second phase will take the trail over US 30 and into Downingtown. The rail-trail immediately crosses I-76 on a pedestrian bridge and heads west past retail centers and office parks along US 202. Extension to identify a preferred alignment and preferred bicycle/pedestrian facility types from Downingtown to the Enola Low Grade Trail. Lose to opening. When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. There I are just enough small hills to make it interesting but not too steep.There is a clean restroom and water fountain at approximately 11 miles. It is a nice long trail with things to see and do easily accessible from the trail. Looking forward to the extension towards Exton which looks. Meet Our New Community Planning Director, Bill Deguffroy! We saw a park ranger marking trees for maintenance on our way, too. Went for a bike ride on this trail with my boys and it was fantastic! The trail is used for commuting, exercise, and recreation by a variety of users including, walkers, joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters. In 2021, 477,092 people used the Chester Valley Trail, while 68,225 enjoyed the Schuylkill River Trail. However, when bikers traveling over 20mph on the trail choose to pass in the middle of the trail, where there is east and west bound congestion, the risk they create for collision is a serious threat to everyone. More than 1/3 of the distance is directly adjacent to 202 and the road noise is very loud. Bike shops in Exton also make for easy service. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). Wide and clean, this trail is well suited for recreational riders. Yes, there are road crossings. According to Trail markings, bicycle speed is limited to 15 miles per hour. The additional mileage is coming to the Chester Valley Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail. The Potential Alignments exhibit illustrates all of the alternatives being evaluated towards extending the CVT and providing connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine Trails. We were both very comfortable. This extension of the existing 13.5 mile trail will . She really enjoys going through the tunnels and over the bridges and pressing the stop traffic button at Swedesford Rd. Several of the crossings are by bridge or tunnel and some are on the street. Chester Valley Trail spans 18.6 from Schuylkill River Trail by Trail Junction Center (75 E Lafayette St, Norristown) to 0.3 mile west of Indian Run St & Commerce Dr (Exton) . Montgomery County has seen a surge in trail users since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Parking lot is large and new. Download a full copy of the final report and watch a short summary video of the recommended improvements. I completely agree that the trail has many crossings, which can be difficult to navigate (not for markings, but for motorists who are not really attentive). In the future, extensions to the trail will allow . You are riding through an urban area and along some highways. Would recommend to families, runners, walkers alike! Chester Valley Trail Extension Study I like this trail for early season rides or when riding with a group of mixed ability. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. But I WAS FRUSTRATED! Chester County is actively working to extend the trail an additional five miles to the west into Downingtown with the first one mile leg currently under engineering review. walkers too. The down side of this trail is the deafening noise from the traffic on 202 and that theres not much in the way of scenery. I will definitely be back for speed work and I will probably use it for my longer runs (10+ miles). endstream endobj 502 0 obj <. The road crossings provide natural stopping points to re-group. Extension Route of Chester Valley Trail Revealed - VISTA.Today The trail is generally constructed to a 10-12 width with 2 level shoulders on each side. Delaware County Community College consolidating Exton, Downingtown this is not it! There are multiple places to park and access the trail, but they can be difficult to find initially. 527 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<30715B5F81D1434990890CD627567620>]/Index[501 42]/Info 500 0 R/Length 124/Prev 659292/Root 502 0 R/Size 543/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream But on this trap I had a great ride from the Malvern trail head. Initially, the trail goes along some very congested real estate, but the sound barriers do muffle the traffic noise so in portions it is very nice, heavily wooded on both sides, and in some places refreshingly cool. If your looking for a relaxing ride this trail isnt for you. This was our longest ride since starting back to riding and we were wooped at the end. I just moved up to PA from FL a few months ago and while I've been an avid runner for some time, frankly the Florida topography, at least on the East coast, doesn't do much by way of hill conditioning. Otherwise, the proximity to 202 and the numerous road crossings makes the trail feel choppy and you never really feel disconnected from suburbia. For a few miles you are riding next to I-76 so you will hear traffic but it is not deafening. I only walked a small section, about 3 miles but it was clean and perfect. 542 0 obj <>stream This will likely change once future segments are finished. I essentially had to stop running for several minutes while I waited for the light to change. Lots of bikers, walkers and families on this trail but majority were friendly as you passed. Fabulous ride not at all marred by the multiple road crossings. I have used the Struble Trail near my home mostly, and have a little experience with several other rail trail systems in SE PA. Today being especially beautiful and the weather cool I chose to ride on the Chester Valley Trail. The project study area includes 6 Chester County municipalities: Caln Township; Downingtown Borough; East Bradford Township; East Caln Township; West Bradford Township; and, West Whiteland Township. Nice clean trail. There is a 0.8-mile spur trail that splits from the main route by the intersection of Commerce Drive and S Pottstown Pike/Main Street. The trail is asphalt all the way, and virtually level. Complete Streets, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans. I'm more interested in the planned extension eastward to Norristown to connect to the Schuylkill River trail, on which I frequently bike. Alternately, Downingtown also has the Streubel Trail, on the other side of town. The trail surface was all asphalt and was in superb condition; no buckling, smooth as glass. I will definitely be back. Officials plan to open the Chester Valley Trail extension this winter. But, there are a lot of BUSY road crossings on this trail; most with road crossing signals. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). I have visited this trail more than any other trail in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. Enjoy. I've definitely struggled a bit with the acclimation to some of the 'hillier' trails in PA/DA. So I visited the trail for the first time today. There are several street crossings but they have pedestrian blinking lights and the crossings are well marked so I felt safe crossing with my boys. 4.5 is a more appropriate rating. First, in Exton, the crossing at Rt. At its full length, the Chester Valley Trail is planned to run from Atglen at the Chester County line to the Schuylkill River. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! The only real problem is the many many crossings. Yeah, there's a few road crossings, a couple of which are across 4-lanes, but, I'm not used to that, and it's one of those things that I can accept. Well maintained, paved, with plenty of shade. despite what the map may indicate. It will offer access to Philadelphia and the western parts of Montgomery County. What is the Chester Valley Trail? What is the Chester Valley Trail I can see it used for recreation and basic transportation. SRPRA not to be confused with SEPTA is finally chugging along with plans to restore rail service connecting Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Philadelphia. Cross-country skiing is permitted in the winter months however the trail is maintained by Chester County as a commuter transportation facility and as such it is plowed of snow after other County government facilities are cleared. Chester County trails more than just recreation - The Mercury The trail is suppose to be 12 wide and it is in places but at most crossings it is a maze to get through especially when the traffic is heavy and a wide range of people from novices to experienced road bikers who are impatient with the rest of us. It is great to have a trail so close to the Mainline. The trail is very enjoyable. East Branch Brandywine Trail Facts. Completion of multi -use trail from Exton to Thorndale : 23.0 ROW Acquisition 2024-2030 Chester Valley Trail West Completion of trail from Downingtown to Atglen . The entrance into the park near Church Farm School is not marked and the parking lot is not complete. For more information, please contact Brian Styche, CCPC's Transportation Services Director at 610-344-6285 or bstyche@chesco.org. But I would not want to bike this route on a weekday. Construction of segments that will close the gap from Ship Road to Iron Lake Blvd. Fourth very nice bathroom and parking area at Exton Park on Church Farm Road. If the CVT was designed for such high speeds there would be mandatory lanes for bike riders. You need to cross roads three times to reach the other side of 100. The trail takes visitors over the Schuylkill River in Norristown and provides access to view the new fish ladder at the Norristown Dam as well as opportunities to visit various shops, restaurants, and art galleries along the way. The new Chester Valley Trail extension and the Cross County Trail are pieces of the Circuit Trails Coalitions plans aimed to connect Philadelphia, the surrounding suburbs, and parts of New Jersey and Delaware, with 500 miles of trails by 2025. MAYBE it's me? One was in a development and had no traffic. There are lots of road crossings, and road noise from Route 202, but it was so pretty! This Phase will be about 1.25 miles. Our first ride on the CVT was our last. But going further has major road crossings, and one enters into a major commercial area, and about a mile or so past that, the trail simply stops. The completed $20.2 million trail will be 22 miles long. Is the plan to connect to that?? Also, its heavily used on the weekends making for a crowded ride. Does anyone know for sure how exactly they're going to connect where the trail currently ends (at Walmart basically, in Exton), to the existing Downingtown Trail that runs along 322? Montgomery County is advancing another major trail project the new Cross County Trail. East Branch Brandywine Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink The trail surface is paved in asphalt that is fully ADA accessible. Public Meeting #1: 'Introduction' was held October 8th, 2015 at the West Whiteland Township Building Main Meeting Room. The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) completed the Chester Valley Trail Extension Study (CVTE) which investigated alternatives and determined a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail (CVT) from its current terminus in Exton into the Borough of Downingtown. The location is home to one of the largest concentrations of employment and population in the Philadelphia region outside of Center City, and the trail provides a key connection of "The Circuit . %PDF-1.5 % Chester Valley Trail Extension - Circuit Trails Once this occurs, the Chester Valley Trail will form part of the Schuylkill-Susquehanna Passage, a long-distance greenway that will connect Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The CVT is well-maintained, paved, offers shade on hot days, and provides links to numerous residential, commercial, and recreational areas, making it perfect for cyclists, in-line skaters or walkers.