But once you get some distance from 202 it is a downright nice ride. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes . Construction of segments that will close the gap from Ship Road to Iron Lake Blvd. It runs too close to major highways making it quite noisy in spots. Chester County is expecting to extend the trail into Downingtown. Crossing the river via a protected pedestrian/bike lane on theNorristown Dam Bridge, theChester Valley Trail winds throughBridgeport and passes an old inn named for Frederick the Great. For all practical purposes you have to cross three roads, each with a long wait for the light and crossing signal. 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. 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). 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 . It's a pretty run, homes to look at, woods, hills parts are shaded, parts are not. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ). (NJ drivers are less likely to stop than PA drivers.) There are about a dozen road crossings, a couple across major highways. In the future, extensions to the trail will allow . 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. There's construction at the main intersection in Exton at the moment about a mile-ish from the trail end. Not one rough spot in the paving, not one piece of trash on the entire 14 mile length. Complete a comprehensive feasibility study for the Chester Valley Trail. 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. MARKINGS!!! Flat trail,asphalt paved from Exton,Pa to rte 29 in Frazer. There is also parking at businesses and small shopping centers including Worthington which includes Wegmans and Target at Route 29 (Morehall Road). Only major crossing is at rte 29 by Wegmans but even there it's ok - wait for the crossing light. That said, my husband and I have greatly enjoyed biking from Paoli to Exton with our 3 year old. 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 . endstream endobj 502 0 obj <. When is soon? MAYBE it's me? We were both very comfortable. 100 intersection is not worth crossing --> 3 crossings, plus the trail west of it is both short & ugly (1 mile round trip). Facilities Montgomery County, PA CivicEngage - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. It was understandably busy. I did this trail back in 2011 and was not thrilled. 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. The Trestle Bridge may be renovated for . 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 . Well maintained, paved, with plenty of shade. Went for a bike ride on this trail with my boys and it was fantastic! The trail is great. 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. Chester Valley Trail | Montgomery County, PA - Official Website Speedy road bikers may not like the many road crossings over a 12 mile stretch, but a great addition to the trail system. The third required me to navigate a high traffic intersection. The trail is paved the entire way and crosses several busy roads, but each intersection is clearly marked and passable. despite what the map may indicate. Even saw a group walking with a large American flaga great bonus to our Labor Day ride! Chester Valley Trail Extension Study Chester Valley Trail | Tredyffrin Township This extension connects the Chester Valley Trail with the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Overall I look forward to riding the trail again when the next expansion phase is completed. 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 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. Work is currently underway to extend the trail roughly three miles further to reach the Schuylkill River Trail. I biked this trail for the first time a week ago, end to end - just short of 15 miles each way. 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. I will definitely be back for speed work and I will probably use it for my longer runs (10+ miles). 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. Constantly looking over my shoulder for cyclists. Current plans call for adding five more miles to the countys 22-mile-long network of paved pedestrian trails. Can't wait for the expansions to be completed in the coming years and ride from Downingtown to Philadelphia. 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. endstream endobj startxref The 6.4 mile of the Chester Valley Trail is expanding in both directions with construction starting this month. About 3 miles of the trail already exist starting at the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken and going up to Germantown Pike. Noise from 202 was blocked mostly by a wall. We take a break while he plays on the playground and then off we go, back towards home. Officials plan to open the Chester Valley Trail extension this winter. The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases. It was not tranquil especially during rush hour. Emily Rizzo is WHYY News suburban reporter covering Bucks and Montgomery counties. Our first ride on the CVT was our last. Final Report. I love this trail. The Planning Commission is working towards determining a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail into the Borough of Downingtown and . 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. Despite helping to provide a pedestrian link between the area's many malls, shopping centers and office buildings, this segment appears to be underused. The trail will be constructed to be 10-12 feet wide with an asphalt or concrete surface. Brandywine Conservancy is working with Caln Township and the Chester County Planning Commission on a feasibility study for its portion of Chester County's Chester Valley Trail West extension, which the previously completed study refers to as the "Beaver Creek Trail.". It's an easy 30mi (end-to-end and back again). 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. But due to the many road crossings and that some of the trail is along major highways and that one is funneled to road crossings requiring sharp turns , I am giving this trail a 3 star rating. It then continues for an additional 1500 feet before abruptly dead-ending at a clump of bushes. Otherwise, the proximity to 202 and the numerous road crossings makes the trail feel choppy and you never really feel disconnected from suburbia. 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. He has a mountain bike. I rode the King of Prussia portion yesterday and I can't wait for it to be completed. We biked northeastward to the end of the trail along King of Prussia Blvd and returned to the Exton Trailhead and continued to the southwest end of the trail. Chester Valley Trail spans 18.6 from Schuylkill River Trail by Trail Junction Center (75 E Lafayette St, Norristown) to 0.3 mile west of Indian Run St & Commerce Dr (Exton) . 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. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Got a question about life in Phillys suburbs? TWICE, on the way back, I LITERALLY got LOST! I started at the King of Prussia park and ride, and biked to Exton and returned. We love this trail! Counties: Chester. Yes, some slight slopes, but nothing serious. The CVTE study is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). 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. Took several minutes (and several again on the way back). The scenery varies greatly, from woodsy tree tunnels to office parks and residential. However, when bikers traveling over 20mph on the trail choose to pass in the middle of the trail, where there is east and west bound congestion, the risk they create for collision is a serious threat to everyone. The completed $20.2 million trail will be 22 miles long. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). 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.