So, if you are riding this trail roundtrip and want to be riding downhill on the return trip, then I suggest that you park at the King of Prussia Trailhead. I cannot claim to be a frequent trail user. I have ridden the paved portion many times with my seven year old daughter and she has no problems making a round trip. The spur connects to the Exton SEPTA/Amtrack Station. The design will enable people with different capacities and abilities to use the trail system, whether its because of your age or a handicap or some other disability, Hartman said. You are riding through an urban area and along some highways. 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 Planning Commission is working towards determining a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail into the Borough of Downingtown and . Trail is perfect--not even a crack. . I essentially had to stop running for several minutes while I waited for the light to change. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes . It is also a very wide trail with plenty of passing room. The trail surface is paved in asphalt that is fully ADA accessible. 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. If the CVT was designed for such high speeds there would be mandatory lanes for bike riders. 2023 The Circuit Trails. I then headed out on my run going East (I think) for 3.1 miles. I rode the King of Prussia portion yesterday and I can't wait for it to be completed. I use those for track type running workouts. Hours of operation are from 1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour past sunset. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Length: 2.5 miles. Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail Yes, some slight slopes, but nothing serious. TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Schuylkill River Trail by Trail Junction Center (75 E Lafayette St, Norristown) and 0.3 mile west of Indian Run St & Commerce Dr (Exton). The rail-trail ends in another 2.4 miles after passing through the community of Exton. 501 0 obj <> endobj The only drawback is crossing several roads which could be a challenge at busy times, and could be a negative for bikers. When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. 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. It's a pretty run, homes to look at, woods, hills parts are shaded, parts are not. Pretty flat. The intersection is large, so by the time you're in the middle of it, traffic is inbound and they barely slow down! 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. Chester Valley Trail - Extension to Downingtown - YouTube We've started at both the Exton end and the King of Prussia end (2 different days) and in both cases rode about 7 miles to Media, where we had lunch, and then did the return trip. This way you can have a nice picnic waiting for you in Exton Park. Nice trail with smooth asphalt for inline skating. Alternately, Downingtown also has the Streubel Trail, on the other side of town. Image via the Montgomery County Planning Commission. The first section is in design and will extend the trail from Exton Town Center to near . Sign up for our weekly newsletter. All other runs probably don't make sense here as I can get the same workout by going out my front door. What is the Chester Valley Trail? What is the Chester Valley Trail Is the plan to connect to that?? (Though part of that was a headwind.) I can't imagine they like the trail that much as there was a lot of sand/dirt/brush washed up on the trail from the recent rains. 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. Bike shops in Exton also make for easy service. MAYBE it's me? All motorists very considerate. It was a weekday so I did not have any problems with traffic. Once completed, the Chester Valley Trail will form a prominent link in southeast Pennsylvania's emerging greenway network, with connections to the Uwchlan and Struble trails, several local parks and Valley Forge via Patriot's Path, another multi-use trail currently in development. Is it still there? 100 crossing, but you need to be alert. The project was funded primarily by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), along with capital improvement funds provided by Montgomery County. You'll be pleased. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? In the less congested western end, the trail utilizes short tunnels to cross US 202 and Swedesford Road.Theres no lack of fast food and restaurants in the retail centers along the eastern segment. Just needs to be MARKED better at several places! Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes through three municipalities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport, and Norristown. 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. It is flat, shady and immaculately maintained. First time on the trail today and loved it. I'm basing my rating on comparison to other trails I've ridden. These trails are flat and family friendly and often have a shoulder for running or stepping off the trail. 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. The result will be an amazing trail system for uninterrupted long trail rides. Second complaint - I rode east to around Mile 5.0, then turned around. Went for a bike ride on this trail with my boys and it was fantastic! Thank you to all those who backed this trail and work to maintain it. Completing this trail gap between two of the areas most significant Circuit Trails is a significant milestone in the regions trail development efforts. 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. The Chester Valley Trail (CVT) is a Chester County project utilizing a former Reading Railroad right of way between Chester County's Struble Trail in Downingtown Borough, through the length of Tredyffrin Township, to the Chester County/Montgomery County line in King of Prussia. 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 3 miles of the trail already exist starting at the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken and going up to Germantown Pike. It mostly was funded with federal dollars through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ); Montgomery County spent about $1.97 million of its own capital funds. Very shady for hot days. Battery-powered wheelchairs, dog walking under leash, and strollers are also permitted. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. In the future, extensions to the trail will allow . It has already completed a feasibility study for one section. Love it if could connect to VF park trail, but overall a great trail whether biking, running or taking the dog for a walk. However, the fact that several major segments remain unbuilt, necessitating lengthy detours on busy roads, give the trail a low overall rating. I can't wait for winter 2022 for extension to Sckuylkill river trail in Norristown. Runs too close to busy highways and past shopping centers. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. We have ridden most of trail nice pavement easy road crossings very easy ride for family we park behind Swedesford shopping center plenty of parking. Chester Valley Trail extension spotlights connection to Norristown's Schuylkill River Trail. Those two pieces are projected to be completed by the end of 2024. Hazards include dangerous road crossings and high speed road bikers. 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. Montgomery Countys fully accessible 5-mile portion of the Chester Valley Trail now links the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown to the existing segment in Chester County that extends 14.5 miles west from Tredyffrin Township to Exton. Chester Valley Trail West - Chesco Planning Extension to identify a preferred alignment and preferred bicycle/pedestrian facility types from Downingtown to the Enola Low Grade Trail. The Chester Valley Trail extension is considered integral to Montgomery County's trail system, Hartman said. %%EOF To get from Clover Mill Road to Boot Road, and then down 322 to where the existing trail begins, there is a massive hilly area. 542 0 obj <>stream Section from Wegmans out to Chesterbrook is pretty open and from Chesterbrook to end is also uninterrupted for the most part with crossing roads. And don't get your hopes up when you see the 0.5 mile sign, there is still another mile or so to go. I'm wondering what the thoughts are. The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases.