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Until the early 1960s, trolley cars ran from downtown D.C. to Laurel. The DC Transit #82 line ran along Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville and along the CSX tracks where Rhode Island breaks off. Portions of this right of way have been improved with a paved trail in College Park. Continuing the trail through Hyattsville would provide an alternate bicycling and pedestrian route that would avoid travel on Route 1 on Baltimore Ave. The Hyattsville Legacy Trail Task Force has been authorized by the mayor and council to develop plans for this trail.


[~1957 image from trainweb.com]

Site Description:

The #82 line of the DC Transit's Trolley's right of way crosses the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River adjacent to Route 1 in Hyattsville. The #82 trolley right of way also crosses the Northwest Branch trail just north of the Northwest Branch. This section of the Northwest Branch trail is also a part of the junction of two national trails. The East Coast Greenway (Maine to Florida) and the American Discovery Trail (Atlantic to Pacific) both follow the Northwest and Northeast Branch trail at this location. Completion of improvements to the trolley trail through Hyattsville and Riverdale Park offers an opportunity to connect the Route 1 corridor with these national trails .


The trail in Hyattsville currently is only intermittently visible, with erosion having decimated at least one section. In Riverdale Park, from the boundary of Hyattsville north to Rhode Island Avenue to the train station (which used to be a used book store and coffee shop) and north, the trail is maintained and used, although not paved.

In College Park, there is a paved section from Albion to Calvert Road. The trail is on road on Rhode Island to just short of Paint Branch Parkway where one must make a 90 degree left turn and a quick right to go around the sound barrier installed along Paint Branch Parkway. The paved trail picks up again north of Paint Branch Parkway to Greenbelt Road. From Greenbelt Road north there is a bike path on the paved shoulder of Rhode Island Avenue until the northern border of the city of College Park.

EYA has agreed to improve the trail along their development (see image below). Partial funding for improving other sections is available by grant application for multimodal transportation from the Federal Government under SAFETEA LU bill. County Councilmember Eric Olsen was instrumental in getting funding for the currently improved sections of the Trolley Trail in College Park while on the College Park council.

The sections north and south of the EYA development appear to be roughly the right grade, but have mostly been unused for years. With a bit of work the overgrowth can be removed and they would be passable. They should become more frequently used once the grade, ie: erosion, problems are solved in the EYA section.



The paving of the rest of the Hyattsville section was requested in the County Transportation Planning hearing at the College Park Municipal building on January 31, 2007. Riverdale Park also made a request for paving of their section of the Trolley Trail at the same hearing.

At the Maryland Bike/Pedestrian Symposium in Annapolis of February 9, 2007 numerous state transportation officials were enthusiastic about this trolley right of way improvement which would connect the business sectors of the Route 1 municipalities to the national trail system. There is fundingfor signage, trail construction, and beautification from the federal and state government.

Recommendations:

• Add 8 - 10 foot wide paved trail with dashed centerline
• Ensure 2 foot hard pack shoulders on either side.
  
• The route should be straight ?(excess "wiggle" not be introduced like in College Park)
• Wide right-of-way (same as first point?) be preserved for future widening based on use
  
• Include trailheads at Madison, Jefferson, Gallatin, (Franklin's) and North West Branch Trail in Hyattsville
• Support extension to Annacostia trail in DC (connects directly with this trail)
• Improve the connection of the trolley trail to the Northwest Branch trail.
• Add signage on the national trails to indicate the location and distances of the named business centers and any specificly bicycle friendly businesses
• Add signage on the roads indicating the location and names of trails

Related Intersection Reports

• Baltimore Ave (US Route 1)
  
• NW Branch Trail at Route 1 – Trolley Trail access
  
• Rt. 1 at Jefferson –– Trolley Trail access
• Rt . 1 at Gallatin –– Trolley Trail access

History:

The DC Trolley originally ran up the east side of Rhode Island Avenue into Hyattsville from the south (except for the Northwest Branch crossing, where the new road bridge was built on the east side of the trolley, to limit the inconvenience to motorists during the road bridge construction. The trolley proceeded along the CSX tracks at the intersection of Rhode Island and Baltimore Blvd. in Hyattsville where it went behind the flatiron building, along the tracks until Rhode Island Avenue reemerges in Riverdale Park, where it again followed Rhode Island.

The trolley ran along this corridor into the early '60s. A DVD about the trolley was made from films shot circa 1951. It was shown to the public at S & J's on Queensbury Road in Riverdale Park on Saturday Feb 3, 2007. The showing brought together over 100 people who will form the basis for an advocacy group for the Trolley Trail improvement. The northern terminus of the trolley was Laurel (at one point). Copies of the video showing the whole DC Transit System are available from TransitGloriaMundi.com or by calling 1-800-428-7003

The Hyattsville "H4X" Hacks made this great video available.
Further material available here:
http://www.hyattsvilleh4x.com/index.php?post_id=178334