East Coast Greenway

Connecting Urban Centers, Train Stations and Greenways in Northern Delaware

Delaware Trail Summit - February 25, 2010On the Map: Regional & Long Distance Trails 

What is the East Coast Greenway?

• Trail linking 25 major cities along the eastern seaboard

• An “Urban Appalachian Trail”

• 3,000 miles from Calais, ME to Key West, FL

• Grass-roots trail, made up of locally owned and managed trails

The VisionA shared-use URBAN trail system linking

cities and towns along the Eastern Seaboard

How is the ECG being established?

New trails being developed to close the gaps

Current travel route = temporary on-road connections linking completed trail

Linking local trails into a continuous route

Criteria

• Off road• Firm surface

– Easily navigated by a touring bicycle or a wheelchair

– May be paved or a fine stone dust surface or other natural surface

• Publicly accessible• 12 foot wide preferred, but

flexibility is allowed in constrained locations

• Avoid steep grades and steps • Avoid areas that are

unpleasant or uninteresting in favor of route that is pleasant, varied and scenic

Partnership

• Federal, State, County and Local Agencies

• Grassroots trail organizations

• Private sector (e.g. design firms)

Alliance partnerswith:

Role of the ECG Alliance

• Setting the vision

• Advocating for its development

• Promoting use

• Monitoring the trail for quality and safety

East Coast Greenway Delaware

• 1998: Delaware committee established–Refined preliminary Delaware

route–Previously planned route

bypassed DE –Committee made up of DelDOT,

WILMAPCO, State Parks, Delaware Greenways, and Wilmington

• 2000-2004: Feasibility Plan for New Castle Co. and Cecil Co., MD developed

Provide safe walking and biking connections to shopping, schools, jobs, transit, and recreation for the community

Showcase our region’s scenic, cultural and historic treasures to travelers

Develop spine connecting existing and planned greenways, bikeways and walkways

Goals for the Feasibility Study included:

Direct vs. scenic

Easier implementation vs. ideal routing

Maximizing existing facilities—maintenance of existing facilities

Local transportation benefit vs. tourism/recreation value

Challenging intersections

Planning issues:

East Coast Greenway

Linking towns and transit . . .

East Coast Greenway

The Spine of New Castle County’s Greenway Network . . .

East Coast Greenway

And connecting with Delaware’s Bike Routes

Implementing the Greenway

• Partnership with New Castle County to coordinated greenway construction with development

• Coordination with DelDOT roadway projects

Interim On- Road Route

•Close to permanent route with walking alternative•Safe for cyclists with average skill

Designated trails

• Northern Delaware Greenway (8.5 miles)

Designated trails

• Wilmington Riverwalk (1.1 miles)

Designated trails

• New Castle Battery Park (1.1 miles)

Designated trails

• Newark Hall Trail/Route 72 (3.5 miles)

Next steps & future challenges

• Using $ from American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

• Filling in gaps—small and major

• Maintenance

• Continuing communication and connections with neighbors

• Signing route and promoting its use

Questions and Comments

Heather Duniganhdunigan@wilmapco.org

302-737-6205 ext 118www.wilmapco.org/Eastcoastgreenway

www.greenway.org