About 3 miles of the trail already exist starting at the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken and going up to Germantown Pike. Named for the late Robert G. Struble, a teacher, conservationist, county commissioner and Brandywine Valley . The Planning Commission is working towards determining a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail into the Borough of Downingtown and . Well maintained, plenty of benches to sit and have a drink. The historic Reading Railroad is planning a comeback as Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority holds its first meeting. For all practical purposes you have to cross three roads, each with a long wait for the light and crossing signal. Along the trail are some new bridges one in Bridgeport over railroad tracks, one above South Gulph Road in King of Prussia, and one over Henderson Road in Upper Merion Township. 4.5 is a more appropriate rating. Extension Route of Chester Valley Trail Revealed - VISTA.Today PDF TII Projects by Legislative District in Chester County Major Corridors (Courtesy of Montgomery County). The third required me to navigate a high traffic intersection. Battery-powered wheelchairs, dog walking under leash, and strollers are also permitted. It's not congested like the Schuylkill River Trail. 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. It continues past the Veterans Memorial Park and into the King of Prussia area of Upper Merion Township. I WILL be back, probably many times. Trail is perfect--not even a crack. Can't wait for the expansions to be completed in the coming years and ride from Downingtown to Philadelphia. What is the Chester Valley Trail Extension? 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. There are lots of road crossings, and road noise from Route 202, but it was so pretty! Download a full copy of the final report and watch a short summary video of the recommended improvements. In other areas, homes and office parks are along the way. Maps were disabled by the visitor on this site. It's mostly flat, though, heading back West was a BIT more difficult than the ride East. We had a blast singing thru the tunnels and got a kick out of having our own bridges over traffic (what is the point otherwise). 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 . This morning it was overflowing. Highly recommended!! You can see a lot of time and money has been put into this trail since it crosses over a number of roads. You'll be pleased. :). Also be aware that you get a lot of noise from the traffic on nearby Rt 202 - it was noticeable and sometimes unpleasant, even without my hearing aids. I'm wondering what the thoughts are. 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. What is the Chester Valley Trail? What is the Chester Valley Trail %%EOF The completed $20.2 million trail will be 22 miles long. The additional mileage is coming to the Chester Valley Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail. My friend and I parked at the Exton Park Trailhead which offers many amenities; such as full service bathrooms, playground area, and a tremendous parking lot. Lots of benches to stop and take a break. The trail is well used by walkers and bikers on weekdays but there was not so much traffic to make it feel crowded. 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. estimated completion in November 2013 from Paoli,cedar hollow road to Valley Forge Park. lacks trail etiquette And mostly I hated the busy road crossings from Malvern on. This feasibility study and master plan continues the planning work from the Chester Valley Trail (CVT) Extension to Downingtown study and recommends the primary routing for the remainder of the CVT westward through Chester County. Please direct any questions or comments you may have to Brian Styche at bstyche@chesco.org. Enjoy. It meanders through the neighborhoods behind houses and businesses. The extension will cost $6.2 million, and it will be fully funded by federal reimbursement through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. The Exton end is very flat while the King of Prussia end has a few not-too-difficult hills. Length: 2.5 miles. The westernmost portion, through the still largely undeveloped Exton Park, has an uneven, gravel and stone surface, which gives way to smooth asphalt next to the Valley Corporate Center and continues east to Route 29. This extension connects the Chester Valley Trail with the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Lots of shade & nice suburban neighborhoods to ride through. The second phase will take the trail over US 30 and into Downingtown. 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. SRPRA not to be confused with SEPTA is finally chugging along with plans to restore rail service connecting Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Philadelphia. A popular well kept asphalt trail of 14 miles. Work is currently underway to extend the trail roughly three miles further to reach the Schuylkill River Trail. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Some covered sections provide shade. Chester Valley Trail West - Chesco Planning But, there are a lot of BUSY road crossings on this trail; most with road crossing signals. When is soon? Took several minutes (and several again on the way back). Read more about the planned trail extensions in the Daily Local News. The study made 3 recommendations: In 2011 Tredyffrin Township did a feasibility study to examine a connection from the Chester Valley Trail to the Paoli Train Station. Now on that note it is a fun smooth ride. Despite its current, short length, this trail allows residents from communities south of the Schuylkill Expressway and Route 202 to walk or bike to the King of Prussia Mall. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. The 1.3-mile section from Joshua Road to Stenton Avenue is projected to start construction in 2023. Trail category: Greenway/Non-RT. Liked the fix it stations. Be careful here. 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. According to a recent Chester Valley Trail Extension survey, respondents would like to see a connection to historical landmarks along the Trail. The Spring Garden Street Greenway would connect the Schuylkill River Trail and the Delaware River Trail, creating safe passage across Philadelphia. Good track to work on your speed. (Courtesy Montgomery County). 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. All motorists very considerate. Chester County pedestrians and bicyclists will soon be able to spread out a little more. I almost never give out 5 stars and never give out a single star so a three is not bad in my book. 542 0 obj <>stream endstream endobj 502 0 obj <. Two of them had pedestrian yields that at least meant I could cross. They are rarely on the trail and more so in the nearby woods. Love it if could connect to VF park trail, but overall a great trail whether biking, running or taking the dog for a walk. Montgomery County is advancing another major trail project the new Cross County Trail. There is also parking at businesses and small shopping centers including Worthington which includes Wegmans and Target at Route 29 (Morehall Road). Smooth surface the entire length of the trail and the shade from the trees in the hot days of July was a plus. I rode the entire 13.5 mile trail from King of Prussia to Exton. Formed in 1850 by the Philadelphia and Reading Company, the Chester Valley Railroad stretched 22 miles between Bridgeport and Downingtown. I find it to be a valuable addition to our time as a family. It was not tranquil especially during rush hour. The county will also connect that part of the Cross County Trail at Stenton Avenue to the Wissahickon Trail with a new 2-mile extension. 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. We rode the entire length out and back on a 95 deg day. Paving is nice. I can see it used for recreation and basic transportation. Chester Valley Trail - Montgomery County Parks, Trails, & Historic Sites, Chester Valley Trail - Chester County Parks & Recreation. 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. Meet Our New Community Planning Director, Bill Deguffroy! I know other reviews have mentioned the lack of signage and I think this has improved. 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 . Elevated views, stunning valley scenes, and a canyon-like descent are all possible in a proposed 3.5-mile extension of the . However, the multiple stops can get annoying if you are used to riding trails with long uninterrupted stretches. The trail will be constructed to be 10-12 feet wide with an asphalt or concrete surface. . This trails brings me such joy! 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. Clean trail and a decent amount of tree coverage at most points for those hot sunny days. Heads up tho! On our way out we encountered an injured raccoon in the middle of the trail that had been cleaned up on the way back. the work area is estimated at 85% complete. On March 13th, 2023 a 3.8 mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail officially opened in Montgomery County. I only walked a small section, about 3 miles but it was clean and perfect. Map of the Cross County Trail in Montgomery County. This should be on all trails. I started at the King of Prussia park and ride, and biked to Exton and returned. Nice trail in great condition. Work on the Chester Valley Trail has been ongoing since 1991 when representatives from Montgomery County, Chester County, and PennDOT first envisioned it. There are many township parks and Valley Forge National Park along the trail or that connect to the trail. Nice clean trail. The Chester Valley Trail extension is considered integral to Montgomery County's trail system, Hartman said. During substantial snowstorms, the Chester Valley Trail will be open to cross-country skiing for brief periods; however, snowmobiling and any other motorized use are prohibited. west to the Exton Wal-Mart. 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. Activities: Biking, walking, jogging, rollerblading. 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. (Not sure how busy it is one weekends.) We will go back after a few more trails to see if we still think the same. The only drawback is crossing several roads which could be a challenge at busy times, and could be a negative for bikers. 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. Construction of segments that will close the gap from Ship Road to Iron Lake Blvd. pts 4 downingtown train station rail station, parking, ped access bp 2 chester valley trail extension to downingtown multi-use trail bp 3 chester valley trail: exton to oaklands multi-use trail bp 12 brandywine trail ext: bradford av to boot rd multi-use trail bp 30 business 30: lloyd ave to train station streetscapes Completed in 2010, this segment is already very popular with cyclists, in-line skaters, hikers, joggers, dogwalkers and parents pushing young children in strollers. Good for casual riding. A few road crossings but they are not too busy and safe. East Branch Brandywine Trail Facts. 100 crossing, but you need to be alert. Another time I wouldn't go further west than Rt 100 until the trail is extended further toward Downingtown, which, apparently, is to happen soon. The crossings are well designed to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe. Chester County is expecting to extend the trail into Downingtown. Complete a comprehensive feasibility study for the Chester Valley Trail. Chester Valley Trail | Chester County, PA - Official Website Enjoy! The 6.4 mile of the Chester Valley Trail is expanding in both directions with construction starting this month. I like this trail for early season rides or when riding with a group of mixed ability. But I would not want to bike this route on a weekday. Thank you to all those who backed this trail and work to maintain it. Noise from 202 was blocked mostly by a wall. It's a pretty run, homes to look at, woods, hills parts are shaded, parts are not. It runs too close to major highways making it quite noisy in spots. They're pretty easily managed. 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. We love this trail! In Exton, the crossing at Rt 100 is a mean 3-way dog-leg. East Branch Brandywine Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink Section from Wegmans out to Chesterbrook is pretty open and from Chesterbrook to end is also uninterrupted for the most part with crossing roads. Beware of the many road crossings, too many, and some of them are 4-lane roads- a little dangerous especially if your riding with little ones. 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. Click to open the map in a new window. More than 1/3 of the distance is directly adjacent to 202 and the road noise is very loud. Philadelphia trail linking Schuylkill and Delaware rivers closer to taking shape. Primarily residential on one side and highway (202?) (Though part of that was a headwind.) 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). When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. Just need to be attentive around mile 7.5 when the trail seems to end -- it doesn't just need to go left at the PNC Bank. The 1.9-mile section of the Cross County Trail from Germantown Pike to Joshua Road is in the study phase. 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. Additionally, 202 can be a bit noisy. Town Tours & Village Walks Program Wraps up 27th Year, Brownfield, Greyfield, & Infill Development. 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. Signage makes the trail easy to follow, and the quarter mile markers are an improvement over the usual half mile markers. The trail is paved the entire way and crosses several busy roads, but each intersection is clearly marked and passable. www.chesco.org I have a pretty poor sense of direction and never once had an issue finding the trail, just look for the green trail signs at road intersections. 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 icy/snowy conditions the trail may be closed until parking and access areas are addressed. Just needs to be MARKED better at several places! 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. Worth the travel from Maryland. She really enjoys going through the tunnels and over the bridges and pressing the stop traffic button at Swedesford Rd. 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. A nice little bridge as well as a nice little tunnel, nice scenary along the way. Chester Valley Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink Very well maintained with good shade. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. The trail extension project included the installation of two new pedestrian bridges at South Gulph Road and Henderson Road, and the enhancement of two existing bridges. The middle segment, currently the longest, runs almost 4 miles from Ship Road east to Route 29. Several of the crossings are by bridge or tunnel and some are on the street. We saw a park ranger marking trees for maintenance on our way, too. Fortunately, this will likely change in the next few years, as major sections between Route 29 and Warner Road, and King of Prussia and Norristown, will close two of these gaps and create an unbroken trail from Ship Road to the Schuylkill River Trail. The Trestle Bridge may be renovated for . I can see how they might run a paved path along Clover Mill Road. Nice shaded parts of trail make it easier to run during summer months. Definitely recommend for a family bike ride. Wide and clean, this trail is well suited for recreational riders. I went to the East end and then to Rt 100. Yes, some slight slopes, but nothing serious. I'm basing my rating on comparison to other trails I've ridden. The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases. Work by Chester and Montgomery Counties began in 2009 to convert the railbed into a trail. Very shady for hot days. You will really enjoy this one! TWICE, on the way back, I LITERALLY got LOST! 100 intersection is not worth crossing --> 3 crossings, plus the trail west of it is both short & ugly (1 mile round trip). The plan is to expand this trail one mile to the west. The intersection is large, so by the time you're in the middle of it, traffic is inbound and they barely slow down! But on this trap I had a great ride from the Malvern trail head. First time users of the CVT. Pros - Relatively flat and straight. Anyone who knows, I would appreciate it. We won't bother with that again. As compared to the Perkiomen or Schuylkill trails, CVT is like city riding. That would be nice to include on the trail information page. Much of the trail has a nice canopy of trees. Also, its heavily used on the weekends making for a crowded ride. We walked our bikes across the 3 intersections around the work since we were determined to get to the end of the trail. All in all, I would say that the portion of the trail that I saw was very nice. I spent an hour trying to get to it off of ship road and route 30. I'm anxioust to ride end-to-end. I did this trail about a month ago, I have no idea how they come up with 12 miles. Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail Other riders were friendly and there were Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. The trail is well-maintained. Is the plan to connect to that?? 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. Some are ok and easy, some are a lot more difficult. 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. 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. 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.
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