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. Non athletes or Weekend Warriors will also find this Trail to be very good. Sections not yet open to the public are posted as "NO TRESPASSING. Security issues and maintenance are coordinated by calling 610-344-5656. The Exton end is very flat while the King of Prussia end has a few not-too-difficult hills. The trail will be constructed to be 10-12 feet wide with an asphalt or concrete surface. Save for the small, unpaved section between Ship Road and the Valley Creek Corporate Center, each completed segment is user-friendly. Leaving Bridgeport, the route curves south and then west as it meanders through King of Prussia, a community named for a local Colonial-era inn built in 1719. 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 . 0 The rail-trail ends in another 2.4 miles after passing through the community of Exton. 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. 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. There is also parking at businesses and small shopping centers including Worthington which includes Wegmans and Target at Route 29 (Morehall Road). Separately, King of Prussia has committed to complete their 2 mile connector section by 2013 which will connect the Chester Valley Trail to the 50+ mile Schuykill River Trail system. Also a lot of stops because of those roads. You can see a lot of time and money has been put into this trail since it crosses over a number of roads. Montgomery County has seen a surge in trail users since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Beautiful views and even have several mile of tree cover as well. You need to cross roads three times to reach the other side of 100. :( OK so NOW the GOOD! Third, very nice long trail. So in conclusion, if in the area and want to get a few miles in, give this a try. Most is shaded and the cars were very good about stopping when Have ridden this trail several times. Visit the TrailLink map for all options and detailed directions. Some are ok and easy, some are a lot more difficult. The completed $20.2 million trail will be 22 miles long. So there ends up being lots more stop and go along the path. Can't wait for the expansions to be completed in the coming years and ride from Downingtown to Philadelphia. If you are travelling a bit to get here and ride this trail you may want to hold off until it's finished because the KOP section is only a little over a mile. The trail is very enjoyable. Parts of the Chester Valley Trail are labeled as "Patriot's Path," a path proposed to connect the Paoli Massacre Site with Valley Forge National Historic Park. The road noise, mostly from 202, and the several crossings (Rt 100 could really benefit from a bridge) stop me from giving it 5 stars. (Not sure how busy it is one weekends.) Love it if could connect to VF park trail, but overall a great trail whether biking, running or taking the dog for a walk. In Exton, the crossing at Rt 100 is a mean 3-way dog-leg. For a few miles you are riding next to I-76 so you will hear traffic but it is not deafening. The Chester Valley Trail currently runs from Exton, in Chester County, to the Schuylkill Expressway in King of Prussia. Several new bridges have been constructed to carry the trail over local roads, while a few underpasses and culverts left over from the railroad, have been refurbished. If you're starting from Exton, I'd recommend NOT parking near Walmart but in Raymour & Flanigan's parking lot to avoid crossing Rt 100, which is very busy! Use figures as determined by Chester Valley Trail Counters showed 477,092 users of the Chester Valley Trail, 68,225 on the Schuylkill River Trail and 350,713 along the Struble Trail, during 2021. The Chester Valley Trail is a planned multi-use trail from Downingtown to Norristown. The only real problem is the many many crossings. The Chester Valley Trail Extension project is a 3.8-mile expansion of the Chester Valley Trail completed in March 2023. Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown . These trails are flat and family friendly and often have a shoulder for running or stepping off the trail. Only major crossing is at rte 29 by Wegmans but even there it's ok - wait for the crossing light. 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 Chester County Planning Commission has officially unveiled a recommended route for the Exton-to-Downingtown extension of the Chester Valley Trail. As part of the Chester Valley Trail Extension project, this 11' lane will widen to 13' after . The bulk of this section parallels Commerce Drive from Iron Lake Blvd. A look into SEPTAs new transit systems proposed for the Philadelphia suburbs. 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 Chester County Planning Commission is proud to release the final Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown Feasibility Study and Master Plan. As a woman who typically runs alone, it's worth noting that I felt quite safe here (I'm not particularly paranoid but in today's times safety is a consideration now). Exton to Downington Section: The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases. Some sections of CVRT are quite lovely; passing by parks and wooded areas. But that takes you to Boot Road. It also seemed to be a very good trail for families and I noticed many out for a group bike ride. Officials plan to open the Chester Valley Trail extension this winter. And don't get your hopes up when you see the 0.5 mile sign, there is still another mile or so to go. All Rights Reserved. It's mostly flat and straight, but there are some short hills on the few on-street segments. 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. Read more about the planned trail extensions in the Daily Local News. I did find my way to where the trail starts up again at Commerce Dr. Getting across Rt 100 is a challenge. Trail end points: PA Route 322/Downingtown Pike (near Bradford Road Avenue) and PA Route 322/Downingtown Pike (east of the Sugars Bridge Road intersection) Trail surfaces: Asphalt. A mix of news, features, interviews and music from around the world presents an engaging portrait of the global community. I can't wait for winter 2022 for extension to Sckuylkill river trail in Norristown. The first section is in design and will extend the trail from Exton Town Center to near US 30. Montgomery County is advancing another major trail project the new Cross County Trail. Went for a bike ride on this trail with my boys and it was fantastic! Get a fresh perspective of people, events and trends that shape our world. The second phase will take the trail over US 30 and into Downingtown. Completed in 2010, this segment is already very popular with cyclists, in-line skaters, hikers, joggers, dogwalkers and parents pushing young children in strollers. We will be sticking to the tried and true, bike friendly, Schuylkill River Trail. Park benches were pretty common, too. Fun outing overall. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. Thank you to all those who backed this trail and work to maintain it. This took me out to the parking lot by Wegman's. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. But I would not want to bike this route on a weekday. Ironton Trail near Coplay PA & the southern Henry Hudson Trail near Freehold NJ are also paved & shady, but they are no where near as long. Superb trail as far as smooth and maintained, but the road noise from Rt 202 made parts of the trail unbearable. Meet Our New Community Planning Director, Bill Deguffroy! Luckily, I saw a gentleman and his daughter unloading bikes and asked - well, it was STILL not the easiest to find! 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. The trail is great. A new major trail in Montgomery County to open this winter It will link the existing 14.5-mile portion of the Chester Valley Trail to the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Copyright 2023 American Community Journals, LLC |, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Primarily residential on one side and highway (202?) WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. It was understandably busy. Portions of the trail are parallel to, or coincide with, 18th Century, Revolutionary War movements by Washington's Continental Army and British General Cornwallis' troops, after the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. Chester Valley Trail - Extension to Downingtown - YouTube My brother and I rode this asphalt trail. Chester Valley Trail | Chester County, PA - Official Website I almost never give out 5 stars and never give out a single star so a three is not bad in my book. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes through three municipalities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport, and Norristown. I have a Mountain bike, but this trail is good for road bikes as well. A couple of mild, short hills face travelers in Malvern and just past PA 29. endobj 3164 0 obj >/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[85A11EC3E497704D9DBE9723DD859F08>]/Index[3150 26]/Info 3149 0 R/Length 79/Prev 22770029/Root 3151 0 R/Size 3176/Type/XRef/W . Parking is available at a number of locations along the trail. Little loud since your close to the interstate. It might get a little boring. I think between the western park and County line Rd it runs about 12 miles and that is like 100 miles and novice seniors like myself. In 2021, 477,092 people used the Chester Valley Trail, while 68,225 enjoyed the Schuylkill River Trail. This is not for riders looking for speed, because as mentioned in other reviews, the trail is shared with walkers, runners, strollers, skaters and training wheels. 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. Pros - Relatively flat and straight. The road crossings provide natural stopping points to re-group. The Chester Valley Trail will generally follow a now-abandoned rail corridor and will connect Chester Countys Struble Trail in Exton with Montgomery Countys Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. It is relatively flat but still a good workout. The extension will cost $6.2 million, and it will be fully funded by federal reimbursement through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). Incoming traffic has the right of way and does not stop. 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. Additionally, 202 can be a bit noisy. Meanwhile, the Schuylkill River Trail, which runs through East Coventry and North Coventry townships, will have four miles added to its current 5.75 miles this spring. I started at the King of Prussia park and ride, and biked to Exton and returned. There is a short section on the northern part of the trail which is more exposed to sun and Rte 202 traffic noise. Paving is nice. Crossing the river via a protected pedestrian/bike lane on theNorristown Dam Bridge, theChester Valley Trail winds throughBridgeport and passes an old inn named for Frederick the Great. The cost is estimated to be $1.5 million, which will be paid for using county bond funding, a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant, and a grant from Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Regional Trails Program/William Penn Foundation. Join us at Chester Valley Trail West Public Meeting, Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown, Download a full copy of the final report and watch a short summary video of the recommended improvements. Named for the late Robert G. Struble, a teacher, conservationist, county commissioner and Brandywine Valley . The Downingtown Trestle Bridge, built between 1903 & 1906, is 1451 feet long and 122 feet high over the Brandywine Creek. Delaware County Community College consolidating Exton, Downingtown This extension of the existing 13.5 mile trail will . 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. The # of road crossings will bother some more than others, but they don't compare to the Barnegat Branch trail & northern section of the Henry Hudson trail near the NJ shore. This is a great trail for those that want to get in a good workout either running or biking without battling the hills of Chester County. 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. It is estimated that there are over 85,000 jobs and 58,000 residents, as well as professional buildings, corporate centers and shopping malls along the trail in West Whiteland, East Whiteland, and Tredyffrin Townships. 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 . The section that I have ridden stretches from Valley Creek Rd near the Church Farm School eastward to Rt 29 near the new Wegman's - approx 4.5 miles. 100 is chaotic! I love this trail. This trails brings me such joy! I know other reviews have mentioned the lack of signage and I think this has improved. The newly extended 22-mile Chester Valley Trail will connect Chester and Montgomery counties to Philadelphia. On top of that, truck traffic is extremely heavy and frequently blocks the intersection. I went to the East end and then to Rt 100. I have visited this trail more than any other trail in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. (Courtesy Montgomery County). Path users will be able to connect to other major trails with a plethora of directional possibilities they could walk or ride west to the Perkiomen Trail and travel all the way to Green Lane Park in Perkiomenville. Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites, Chester County's Exton Park Site - 132 Church Farm Lane, Exton, Battle of the Clouds Park - 125 N Phoenixville Pike, Malvern, East Whiteland Municipal Building - 209 Conestoga Rd, Malvern, West Whiteland Municipal Building - 101 E Commerce Drive, Exton, Battery powered wheel chairs by persons with disabilities, Strollers, including those connected to bicycles, Equestrian use, including horseback riding or carriage use, Motorized vehicles, including motor vehicles (excluding authorized vehicles). It's not congested like the Schuylkill River Trail. The CVT gets a bit dense with crossings, cars and highway noise at either end. Trail is perfect--not even a crack. We saw a park ranger marking trees for maintenance on our way, too. Just rode this trail for the first time today - 4/2/16 - started in Exton - FIRST, the "BAD" - my complaints - I followed the directions posted here, but, when I got there, I had NO IDEA WHERE the trail WAS. I will definitely be back. PDF Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County Status - June 2022 Work by Chester and Montgomery Counties began in 2009 to convert the railbed into a trail. A 3.8-mile eastward extension to Norristown opened in March 2023 and connects the trail to theSchuylkill River Trail, which creates access to Valley Forge National Historical Park to the north and Philadelphia to the south. One of those is Battle of the Clouds Park, located 1 mile past Ecology Park, where the trail crosses Phoenixville Pike. The extensions recommended alignment is to develop the trail within the inactive Philadelphia and Thorndale low-grade rail corridor which parallels the Amtrak Keystone Corridor or the Main Line between Exton and Thorndale. Does anyone have firm facts about the path that the existing Chester Valley Trail is going to use to get to Downingtown? The trail is well-maintained. As compared to the Perkiomen or Schuylkill trails, CVT is like city riding. Extension to identify a preferred alignment and preferred bicycle/pedestrian facility types from Downingtown to the Enola Low Grade Trail. I did not cross Rt 29 (not necessary if only doing a 10 mileryou can run a little more near the parking lot in Exon to supplement the small shortage), but all other street crossings were simple and very well marked. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. This extension connects the Chester Valley Trail with the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Beaver Creek Trail | Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art (Courtesy Montgomery County). We won't bother with that again. Park at either Exton Park or the trailhead off of S. Warner Rd, and you can get a 28 mile ride; the former has a restroom, while the later has a port-a-john. I saw a lot of different types of bikes, recumbents, rollerblades, runners! The extension will cost $6.2 million, and it will be fully funded by federal reimbursement through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. Those two pieces are projected to be completed by the end of 2024. Smooth surface the entire length of the trail and the shade from the trees in the hot days of July was a plus. endstream endobj startxref Chester Valley Trail Extension - Circuit Trails Facilities Montgomery County, PA CivicEngage This trail is wide and very well maintained. The paved trail will be 12 feet wide, off-road, and designed for both cyclists and pedestrians for recreation and commuting. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. It then continues for an additional 1500 feet before abruptly dead-ending at a clump of bushes. PDF TII Projects by Municipality - Chesco Planning The county will start designing the last 5-mile stretch of the trail in 2023. But on this trap I had a great ride from the Malvern trail head. The project has been in the works for three years. 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. west to the Exton Wal-Mart. 29 near Wegmans is not as obnoxious as the rt. I like having access to it at different points. The trail is paved from Morehall rd to N Ship rd except for about a mile. Each segment of the trail is at different stages in the development pipeline either already existing, under study, in engineering, or under construction, Hartman said. Overall, I think CVRT is more a commuter trail than recreational trail. The installation of the new bridge over Henderson Road in Upper Merion Township for the Chester Valley Trail. Complete Streets, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans. The Chester Valley Trail is a multi-use, rail-to-trail facility that roughly follows U.S. Possible alignments are looked at the Route 30 Multimodal Transportation Study. I highly recommend it! The 6.4 mile of the Chester Valley Trail is expanding in both directions with construction starting this month. Extension Route of Chester Valley Trail Revealed - VISTA.Today 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. The Planning Commission is working towards determining a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail into the Borough of Downingtown and . East Branch Brandywine Trail Facts. hb```}|@(a}):W{`,O2%(\zPZcGGG1b l@n 3p%X$ `a6bRV-,58'ob+Yb^%u #W! The trail section near Exton out to CFS has a lot of points where you cross traffic so be careful. Public Meeting #2: 'Alternatives Analysis Review / DRAFT Recommended Alignment' was held March 30th at the West Whiteland Township Main Meeting Room. The trail is used for commuting, exercise, and recreation by a variety of users including, walkers, joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters. As of late 2011, three major segments of the trail, which is being constructed along an abandoned rail line that once connected Downingtown to Norristown and allowed freight trains to bypass Philadelphia, have been built in Chester and Montgomery counties. it is best to start this trail from the King of Prussia side and ride to the end point in Exton. Definitely more downhill slope going towards 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. 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. Nice trail. The recommended alignment connects the existing CVT to the inactive Philadelphia and Thorndale (P+T) line, which runs parallel to but separate from the SEPTA/Amtrak main line for 7.4 miles. Chester County pedestrians and bicyclists will soon be able to spread out a little more. The trail would be just over a mile long and expand the practicality of connecting these two major transportation facilities. View Final Report; View Final Appendix; Project Description. Clean trail and a decent amount of tree coverage at most points for those hot sunny days. Duane Morris investigation into Central Bucks finds no discrimination against LGBTQ students, Shapiro signs first bill, expands Pa. health insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings, 3 unions at Rutgers University have reached tentative agreements. You'll be pleased. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Friends of the Chester Valley Trail has a Facebook page for current information, photos and quick responses to questions. This unique corridor is a hidden gem that will provide for a safe and completely grade separated trail that will attract many users due to its scenic and historic quality and proximity to regional rail stations including Exton, Whitford, Downingtown, and Thorndale. Loved having retail on both ends for drinks/snacks. I WILL be back, probably many times. On our way out we encountered an injured raccoon in the middle of the trail that had been cleaned up on the way back. Currently, a 5.1 mile section is complete, connecting Montgomery County to Chester County. Started in the car park at the western end and rode all the way to KoP. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I road this trail. While the Chester Valley Trail West Study completed . Enjoy. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! If your looking for a relaxing ride this trail isnt for you. All blacktop! It was not tranquil especially during rush hour. Chester County trails more than just recreation - Daily Local Once one reaches Exton Park Trailhead, where water, restroom and tables are available, unless one wants to go into Exton, there is little reason to travel further. Trail category: Greenway/Non-RT. There are lots of road crossings, and road noise from Route 202, but it was so pretty! Counties: Chester. The trail is broken up by numerous street crossings. Section from Wegmans out to Chesterbrook is pretty open and from Chesterbrook to end is also uninterrupted for the most part with crossing roads. Anyone who knows, I would appreciate it. If you're riding the entire trial, all the crossing can become a bit burdensome. It was raining, but still plenty of people out and about. The bad is that you will need to keep a close eye out for the many walkers, runners, strollers, and families. A 3.8-mile eastward extension to Norristown opened in March 2023 and connects the trail to the Schuylkill River . Hartman described the trail system like a humans circulatory system with the Cross County as the trail artery because it allows path users to make many connections to other major trails. %%EOF We will have to wait for the politicians to get some good weather to pat themselves on the back about what a great job they did before the trail is officially open, but in the meantimeexcept for the extreme eastern edge east of Old Eagle School Road and the extreme western edge, west of the Church Farm School, the path is open and clear of snow and ice. 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. Good track to work on your speed. I drove up from Wilmington De and it was close to a waste of time and effort. The trail is generally constructed to a 10-12 width with 2 level shoulders on each side. Youve got to build that basic infrastructure that provides the broad access that you can then tie into and connect, he said. The Chester County Planning Commission is proud to release the final Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown Feasibility Study and Master Plan.We are very excited about the potential for developing this trail in the heart of central Chester County and expanding The Circuit, Greater Philadelphia's regional trail network. Download a full copy of the final report and watch a short summary video of the recommended improvements. It continues past the Veterans Memorial Park and into the King of Prussia area of Upper Merion Township. Fourth very nice bathroom and parking area at Exton Park on Church Farm Road. Very shady for hot days. Work on the Chester Valley Trail has been ongoing since 1991 when representatives from Montgomery County, Chester County, and PennDOT first envisioned it. It's an easy 30mi (end-to-end and back again).
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