WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. A popular well kept asphalt trail of 14 miles. Otherwise, the proximity to 202 and the numerous road crossings makes the trail feel choppy and you never really feel disconnected from suburbia. Extension Route of Chester Valley Trail Revealed - VISTA.Today Get a fresh perspective of people, events and trends that shape our world. According to Trail markings, bicycle speed is limited to 15 miles per hour. I essentially had to stop running for several minutes while I waited for the light to change. Several of the crossings are by bridge or tunnel and some are on the street. Chester Valley Trail extension spotlights connection to Norristown's Schuylkill River Trail. Some covered sections provide shade. at the more northern end of the trail. The Chester Valley Trail is a planned multi-use trail from Downingtown to Norristown. Nice clean trail. The installation of the new bridge over Henderson Road in Upper Merion Township for the Chester Valley Trail. 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. Public Meeting #3: 'DRAFT Master Plan - Recommended Alignment' was held on May 31st, 2017 at the West Whiteland Township Main Meeting Room. Liked the fix it stations. Little loud since your close to the interstate. 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. SEPTA wants to streamline bus services in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and implement microtransit zones an on-demand door-to-door transit service. MARKINGS!!! Hazards include dangerous road crossings and high speed road bikers. They're pretty easily managed. Meet Our New Community Planning Director, Bill Deguffroy! 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. Struble Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink Other riders were friendly and there were Yes, some slight slopes, but nothing serious. The renovated and relocated inn, which contains offices for the local chamber of commerce, stands 0.3 mile from the trail. Formed in 1850 by the Philadelphia and Reading Company, the Chester Valley Railroad stretched 22 miles between Bridgeport and Downingtown. This Phase will be about 1.25 miles. On hot days, we can detour to Wegmans and grab a cold snack. 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. 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. Its how we live. Looking forward to more rides! The historic Reading Railroad is planning a comeback as Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority holds its first meeting. The trail is paved the entire way and crosses several busy roads, but each intersection is clearly marked and passable. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? A 3.8-mile eastward extension to Norristown opened in March 2023 and connects the trail to the Schuylkill River . Note: we started at the King of Prussia end and rode to Exton, but the last mile or so of the trail was closed. The Chester County Commissioners accepted the plan at their December meeting to close out the grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program that partially funded the study. When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. Crossing rt. The Schuylkill River Trail stretches from Philadelphia to beyond Reading with many connecting trails which will result in an uninterrupted trail system easily exceeding 100 miles (after connectors are completed-check back in 2013 for that ride). The first section is in design and will extend the trail from Exton Town Center to near . There are many township parks and Valley Forge National Park along the trail or that connect to the trail. Philadelphia trail linking Schuylkill and Delaware rivers closer to taking shape. Would recommend to families, runners, walkers alike! 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. 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 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. Very well-kept and nicely made. Hours of operation are from 1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour past sunset. Even saw a group walking with a large American flaga great bonus to our Labor Day ride! If you're riding the entire trial, all the crossing can become a bit burdensome. 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. For more information, please contact Brian Styche, CCPC's Transportation Services Director at 610-344-6285 or bstyche@chesco.org. %PDF-1.5 % Lose to opening. It really contributes to the quality of life for our residents, whether its in the form of recreation or as a commuting resource, said Bill Hartman, the countys trails and open space planning manager. 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. This will likely change once future segments are finished. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. The 3.9-mile extension would stretch the existing 14.5-mile Chester Valley Trail, which runs from Exton in Chester County into King of Prussia. :( OK so NOW the GOOD! It has already completed a feasibility study for one section. The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department opened this trail in 1979 on part of a former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way. To cross Rt. Very shady for hot days. I am only giving this trail three stars, not because the trail is a poor experience, but it is a short trail for me, and there are numerous road crossings. Localized trails can link to the veins and the capillaries in the larger system. We take a break while he plays on the playground and then off we go, back towards home. I found it unsafe since many of the bike riders do not observe the 15mph speed limit that is clearly marked on the pavement and is appropriate for a multi-use trail. But I WAS FRUSTRATED! Yes, there are road crossings. Counties: Chester. Chester County trails more than just recreation - The Mercury It was understandably busy. The Chester Valley Trail provides opportunities for recreation and alternative transportation in the congested commercial center at the northern edge of Greater Philadelphia. While the Chester Valley Trail West Study completed . A new major trail in Montgomery County to open this winter 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. walkers too. Starting from the King of Prussia trailhead I found the trail too close to busy streets for me. Chester Valley Multi Trail - Downingtown, Pennsylvania In addition, recommendations are made for providing on and off-road connections between the P+T line, Struble Trail, and East Branch Brandywine Trail through Downingtown. The first section is in design and will extend the trail from Exton Town Center to near US 30. Chester Valley Trail - Circuit Trails 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. 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. The entrance into the park near Church Farm School is not marked and the parking lot is not complete. Very well maintained with good shade. Friends of the Chester Valley Trail has a Facebook page for current information, photos and quick responses to questions. It's a fine trail if you like to walk or run. The trail surface was all asphalt and was in superb condition; no buckling, smooth as glass. 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 work area is estimated at 85% complete. The only crossing that is a real pain is going over Route 100 if you want to ride past Main Street at Exton. Worth the travel from Maryland. hb```}|@(a}):W{`,O2%(\zPZcGGG1b l@n 3p%X$ `a6bRV-,58'ob+Yb^%u #W! 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. A couple of mild, short hills face travelers in Malvern and just past PA 29. However, the multiple stops can get annoying if you are used to riding trails with long uninterrupted stretches. This trail dose have some potential, I have no idea how is managing it. The result will be an amazing trail system for uninterrupted long trail rides. 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. Work is currently underway to extend the trail roughly three miles further to reach the Schuylkill River Trail. By Mark Hostutler. I completely agree that the trail has many crossings, which can be difficult to navigate (not for markings, but for motorists who are not really attentive). Each of these municipalities is represented on a project Steering Committee along with representatives from other County departments and local stakeholders. It is great to have a trail so close to the Mainline. 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. 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 . But I would not want to bike this route on a weekday. 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. despite what the map may indicate. 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. 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. Fabulous ride not at all marred by the multiple road crossings. For a few miles you are riding next to I-76 so you will hear traffic but it is not deafening. 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. 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. At some point during your activities on this trail, you will come across dear. The rail-trail ends in another 2.4 miles after passing through the community of Exton. There are about a dozen road crossings, a couple across major highways. 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. There are multiple places to park and access the trail, but they can be difficult to find initially. 36.0 Seeking Funding TBD Paoli Pike Trail: Airport Road to Ellis Lane (Segment A) Multi-use trail along Paoli Pike (0.15 miles) . 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 . Chester Valley Trail Public Meeting Recap - Circuit Trails Plans call for extending it westward to Downingtown. 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. 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. 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. Does anyone have firm facts about the path that the existing Chester Valley Trail is going to use to get to Downingtown? A nice, flat, paved and well marked trail. All in all the CVT is a nice trail, one that I would like to do every year. Cons - The scenery is less than ideal. The third required me to navigate a high traffic intersection. (Though part of that was a headwind.) The 10- to 12-foot-wide asphalt path, which is open daily, 8 amsunset, has a slight uphill grade from King of Prussia to Exton. I did this trail back in 2011 and was not thrilled. Exton to Downington Section: The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases. Currently, a 5.1 mile section is complete, connecting Montgomery County to . Save for the small, unpaved section between Ship Road and the Valley Creek Corporate Center, each completed segment is user-friendly. 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. 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 project has been in the works for three years. 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. You'll be pleased. I have ridden the paved portion many times with my seven year old daughter and she has no problems making a round trip. Chester Valley Trail - Extension to Downingtown - YouTube There are lots of road crossings, and road noise from Route 202, but it was so pretty! Users will eventually be able to take the Cross County Trail to the Wissahickon Trail, Power Line Trail, Cresheim Trail, and the Schuylkill River Trail into Philadelphia. 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). if you don't mind backpacking, there are great green areas to stop along the way and have a snack. I rode the entire 13.5 mile trail from King of Prussia to Exton. The Chester Valley Trail extension is considered integral to Montgomery Countys trail system, Hartman said. The other dangerous intersection is at Foundry Way in Malvern. The trail surface is paved in asphalt that is fully ADA accessible. 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. 100 crossing, but you need to be alert. It was a weekday so I did not have any problems with traffic. Overall, I think CVRT is more a commuter trail than recreational trail. Enjoy. endstream endobj 502 0 obj <. At its eastern end, the rail-trail connects to theSchuylkill River Trail inNorristown. hbbd```b``+@$SdExA$40,8`q L|` l@Z ".D@1#cmT#30}0 Kn This trail does track w/ R-202 along KoP which can get pretty noisy but for the most part its pretty quiet, hence the 4 stars, not 5. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Chester Valley Trail Extension | Montgomery County, PA - Official Website - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. It is a favorite destination for walkers, runners, families, and bikers since it is convenient to a large population. The intersection is large, so by the time you're in the middle of it, traffic is inbound and they barely slow down! In Exton, the crossing at Rt 100 is a mean 3-way dog-leg. when this trail is complete it will be one of the better trails in the Delaware Valley, Hard to find due to confusing signage. Will definitely ride it on our next trip to PA. I only walked a small section, about 3 miles but it was clean and perfect. I'm wondering what the thoughts are. 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. So MORE SIGNS and BETTER MARKING is a MUST! The trail is well kept and access to many restaurants if you like that. Just needs to be MARKED better at several places! Complete municipal or multi-municipal bicycle/pedestrian/trail plans to identify potential local connections to the planned regional trail network, including the Chester Valley Trail and West Branch Brandywine Creek Trail. There are a few road crossings but they are well controlled by lights and the drivers in this area seem to be familiar with the trail crossings and often stop before you get to push the button for the traffic signal. Is the plan to connect to that?? Does anyone know where I can park close to the trail around Wayne without the risk of getting towed? On March 13th, 2023 a 3.8 mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail officially opened in Montgomery County. There's construction at the main intersection in Exton at the moment about a mile-ish from the trail end. The trail is broken up by numerous street crossings. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). 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 were both very comfortable. The trail is very enjoyable. Love it if could connect to VF park trail, but overall a great trail whether biking, running or taking the dog for a walk. Lots of shade & nice suburban neighborhoods to ride through. Possible alignments are looked at the Route 30 Multimodal Transportation Study. 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. it is best to start this trail from the King of Prussia side and ride to the end point in Exton. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Pros - Relatively flat and straight. Currently part of the trail is under repair so there is a clearly marked detour but that added 2 more crossings on a busy road. The CVTE study is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). Complete a comprehensive feasibility study for the Chester Valley Trail. Additionally, 202 can be a bit noisy. The Chester Valley Trail is currently 18.6 miles in length with 13.5 miles open for use in Chester County and 5.1 miles open to the east in Montgomery County. I like having access to it at different points. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. If your looking for a relaxing ride this trail isnt for you. Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail I started at the King of Prussia park and ride, and biked to Exton and returned. Chester Valley Trail West - Chesco Planning 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. 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. The Downingtown Center is centrally located in Chester County, about 10 miles from the Exton Center. Delaware County Community College consolidating Exton, Downingtown Not too difficult and the trail is shady so for an August day it wasn't too hot. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. The county will start designing the last 5-mile stretch of the trail in 2023. Nice trail. 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. View Final Report; View Final Appendix; Project Description. This can also be viewed as a negative as I was passing people and getting passed by cyclists. This trail is wide and very well maintained. This is my new favorite trail. The Chester Valley Trail currently runs from Exton, in Chester County, to the Schuylkill Expressway in King of Prussia. PDF TII Projects by Legislative District in Chester County Major Corridors This trails brings me such joy! Looking forward to the extension towards Exton which looks. Elevated views, stunning valley scenes, and a canyon-like descent are all possible in a proposed 3.5-mile extension of the . WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ). Around the 8 mile point, the scenery is more open, with farms along the trail. The drawbacks (frequent road crossings and occasional visual proximity to rte 202) are easily outweighed by the quality of the 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. Nice trail in great condition. States: Pennsylvania. Trail will be extended west to Rt. Public Meeting #1: 'Introduction' was held October 8th, 2015 at the West Whiteland Township Building Main Meeting Room. Our first ride on the CVT was our last. Ask us a question or send an idea for a story you think we should cover. Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown Completion of multi-use trail from Exton to Thorndale 23.0 ROW Acquisition 2024 -2030 Chester Valley Trail West Completion of trail from Downingtown to Atglen 36.0 Seeking Funding 2023 -2030 Struble Trail Extension Completion of multi -use trail from Marsh Creek State Park to Reeds Road
