This document was prepared by National RTAP with the financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The contents do not necessarily represent the opinions or policy of any agency of the U.S. Government, and the U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. It does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the public in any way.
National Capital Trail Network
The greater Washington, DC region is renowned for the quality and extent of its shared-use paths and several notable long-distance bicycle routes that pass through the region. Michael J. Farrell, Senior Transportation Planner for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) in Washington, DC, spearheads a unique shared-use path project that spans across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
National Capital Trail Network
National Capital Trail Network
The greater Washington, DC region is renowned for the quality and extent of its shared-use paths and several notable long-distance bicycle routes that pass through the region. Michael J. Farrell, Senior Transportation Planner for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) in Washington, DC, spearheads a unique shared-use path project that spans across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The groundwork for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region began about twenty years ago through the work of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB).
The groundwork for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region began about twenty years ago through the work of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB). The Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee of the TPB Technical Committee advises the TPB and its Technical Committee and other committees on bicycle and pedestrian considerations in overall regional transportation planning. It meets six times per year and each agency involved sends their bicycle and pedestrian planners. While the TPB is collaborative, the project works so well because the various agencies involved have different needs and roles and can customize their plans based on those; for example, setting speed limits for their area’s shared-use paths. Each jurisdiction has different challenges, and each can plan at its own speed.
TPB members include large agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), as well as small, rural transit agencies in the region. The TPB convenes an annual shared micromobility workshop for all its members and administers working groups where agency representatives report on their progress and share best practices. TPB also provides technical assistance to its agencies and provides grant funding. If agencies want funding, they must produce and report on projects such as shared-use paths or long-distance trails. Since the TPB started planning, the region has built a network of approximately 800 miles of shared-use paths consisting of paved or packed crushed stone surface that are suitable for pedestrians, road bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Walking and bicycling account for 11% of all trips in the region. 92% of bike/walk commuters reported being satisfied with their commutes, the highest of any commuter mode, according to a recent survey.
TPB members include large agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), as well as small, rural transit agencies in the region. The TPB convenes an annual shared micromobility workshop for all its members and administers working groups where agency representatives report on their progress and share best practices.
TPB also provides technical assistance to its agencies and provides grant funding. If agencies want funding, they must produce and report on projects such as shared-use paths or long-distance trails. Since the TPB started planning, the region has built a network of approximately 800 miles of shared-use paths consisting of paved or packed crushed stone surface that are suitable for pedestrians, road bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Walking and bicycling account for 11% of all trips in the region. 92% of bike/walk commuters reported being satisfied with their commutes, the highest of any commuter mode, according to a recent survey. The regional bike sharing program, Capital Bikeshare, includes about 5,000 bicycles at over 600 stations in seven jurisdictions. The project hopes to have over 1,700 miles of shared-use paths by the year 2045.
