at the more northern end of the trail. Current plans call for adding five more miles to the countys 22-mile-long network of paved pedestrian trails. I biked this trail for the first time a week ago, end to end - just short of 15 miles each way. The historic Reading Railroad is planning a comeback as Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority holds its first meeting. We found it well maintained, paved and wide. Luckily, I saw a gentleman and his daughter unloading bikes and asked - well, it was STILL not the easiest to find! 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. It is flat, shady and immaculately maintained. All in all, I would say that the portion of the trail that I saw was very nice. On the plus side, if you take your shopping cart with you, it passes by Wegmans, Target, Walmart and every other big box store along its way, with convenient access to all their parking lots. We love this trail! When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. 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. 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. Though the trail is incomplete (the goal is to tie in with the Schuylkill River Trail) it runs through established neighborhoods as well as farm land along an old right of way that is more greenway than suburban. Chester Valley Trail West - Chesco Planning :). 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 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. Anyone who knows, I would appreciate it. The first section is in design and will extend the trail from Exton Town Center to near . I look forward to learning how to connect, on the east end, to the Schuylkill River Trail that goes all the way to Center City (PHL). WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ). 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 . 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. 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. Read more about the planned trail extensions in the Daily Local News. Chester Valley Trail Extension - Circuit Trails The 1.3-mile section from Joshua Road to Stenton Avenue is projected to start construction in 2023. Can't rate this trail until its finished but have high hopes for it. The Chester Valley Trail is a planned multi-use trail from Downingtown to Norristown. Nice shaded parts of trail make it easier to run during summer months. Chester Valley Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink There are many well marked road crossings with gates and audible crossing signals. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. I cannot claim to be a frequent trail user. despite what the map may indicate. 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. 100 crossing, but you need to be alert. The Road crossing at Rt 100 is rather bizarre. There are lots of road crossings, and road noise from Route 202, but it was so pretty! The only real problem is the many many crossings. I'm wondering what the thoughts are. Localized trails can link to the veins and the capillaries in the larger system. %PDF-1.5
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This should be on all trails. 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. I rode the entire 13.5 mile trail from King of Prussia to Exton. 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. The crossings are well designed to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe. Cons - The scenery is less than ideal. The 1.9-mile section of the Cross County Trail from Germantown Pike to Joshua Road is in the study phase. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes through three municipalities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport, and Norristown. Montgomery County officials are moving forward with two major trail projects that will make it easier for folks to travel through the county on foot or bicycle. Be careful here. The Exton end is very flat while the King of Prussia end has a few not-too-difficult hills. PennDot really needs to put in a crosswalk for the trail and walkers on the south side of Commerce Dr.
As previously stated, the trail surface is smooth and well maintained. 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. Sections not yet open to the public are posted as "NO TRESPASSING. Security issues and maintenance are coordinated by calling 610-344-5656. On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Montgomery County Commissioners joined with other local officials to cut the ribbon on the Chester Valley Trail Extension, a 3.8-mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail. Friends of the Chester Valley Trail has a Facebook page for current information, photos and quick responses to questions. This trail is paved, 12 feet in width, and will eventually be 22 miles long. It's harder going then coming back, but the street crossings are minimal and non invasive, the other riders/walkers are considerate and upbeat. So in conclusion, if in the area and want to get a few miles in, give this a try. I have ridden the paved portion many times with my seven year old daughter and she has no problems making a round trip. A nice little bridge as well as a nice little tunnel, nice scenary along the way. Does anyone have firm facts about the path that the existing Chester Valley Trail is going to use to get to Downingtown? We were both very comfortable. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. At the Exton Park, there is a detailed trail sign and also indications of future trails, including the proposed route to link with the Schuylkill River Trail from King of Prussia. 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. Signage makes the trail easy to follow, and the quarter mile markers are an improvement over the usual half mile markers. We rode the entire length out and back on a 95 deg day. 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. It is a favorite destination for walkers, runners, families, and bikers since it is convenient to a large population. 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. First time users of the CVT. Youve got to build that basic infrastructure that provides the broad access that you can then tie into and connect, he said. Please give today. Help is close by if you have any type of accident or need help. Great Job!! The Chester Valley Trail extension is considered integral to Montgomery County's trail system, Hartman said. Very well-kept and nicely made. Overall, I think CVRT is more a commuter trail than recreational trail. Chester Valley Trail - Circuit Trails To cross Rt. 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. The newly extended 22-mile Chester Valley Trail will connect Chester and Montgomery counties to Philadelphia. For a newbie, these crossings were sometimes confusing. The other dangerous intersection is at Foundry Way in Malvern. All motorists very considerate. Ran to the left after parking. Chester Valley Trail Public Meeting Recap - Circuit Trails (the back.) 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. It then continues for an additional 1500 feet before abruptly dead-ending at a clump of bushes. However, the multiple stops can get annoying if you are used to riding trails with long uninterrupted stretches. I like having access to it at different points. A couple of mild, short hills face travelers in Malvern and just past PA 29. Currently, a 5.1 mile section is complete, connecting Montgomery County to . Starting from King of Prussia (South Gulph Road Parking Area) and riding out to West Whiteland Township Trailhead (Main Street at Exton), the ride is relatively flat with a slow and constant elevation gain. Very well maintained with good shade. MAYBE it's me? Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County Primarily residential on one side and highway (202?) Incoming traffic has the right of way and does not stop. 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. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). 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. Chester County park rangers patrol the trail. There were a couple of maintenance stations along the way. For more information, please contact Brian Styche, CCPC's Transportation Services Director at 610-344-6285 or bstyche@chesco.org. 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. (Not sure how busy it is one weekends.) 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. Other riders were friendly and there were Drivers always slowed down for us to cross. The Chester Valley Trail currently runs from Exton, in Chester County, to the Schuylkill Expressway in King of Prussia. Hours of operation are from 1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour past sunset. There is a short section on the northern part of the trail which is more exposed to sun and Rte 202 traffic noise. 29 near Wegmans is not as obnoxious as the rt. 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. Enjoy. This Phase will be about 1.25 miles. Chester County trails more than just recreation - The Mercury View or download a copy of the Chester Valley Trail Extension Feasibility Study and Master Plan. In the 3.1 miles out, I crossed 4 roads. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. The road crossings provide natural stopping points to re-group. Most is shaded and the cars were very good about stopping when The Planning Commission is working towards determining a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail into the Borough of Downingtown and . I have a Mountain bike, but this trail is good for road bikes as well. 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. However, the fact that several major segments remain unbuilt, necessitating lengthy detours on busy roads, give the trail a low overall rating. This way you can have a nice picnic waiting for you in Exton Park. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail 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. These trails are flat and family friendly and often have a shoulder for running or stepping off the trail. It's mostly flat, though, heading back West was a BIT more difficult than the ride East. As part of the Chester Valley Trail Extension project, this 11' lane will widen to 13' after . PDF Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County Status - June 2022 Second complaint - I rode east to around Mile 5.0, then turned around. Smooth surface the entire length of the trail and the shade from the trees in the hot days of July was a plus. It is also a very wide trail with plenty of passing room. The CVTE study is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. Overpasses and tunnels, which help avoid street crossings, make this a family-friendly route. Superb trail as far as smooth and maintained, but the road noise from Rt 202 made parts of the trail unbearable. Trail is crowded with multiple users- bikes, jiggers, skateboarders, etc. The project has been in the works for three years. 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. Fabulous ride not at all marred by the multiple road crossings. 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. I essentially had to stop running for several minutes while I waited for the light to change. www.chesco.org The trail parallels US 202, which youll barely notice as you travel through a wooded corridor that opens up to farmland approaching Exton. 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. If you are looking for a quiet bike ride in a beautiful setting, I would not suggest it. The trail descends much of the way from Exton Trailhead to the northeast end - King of Prussia Blvd. First, in Exton, the crossing at Rt. Routes 30 and 202 through central Chester County from West Whiteland Township east into Montgomery County. Its just a little boring. 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. You need to cross roads three times to reach the other side of 100. So I visited the trail for the first time today.