Chester Valley Trail
Development of the Trail is well underway, and once completed, will be the "backbone" through some of Chester County's busiest communities. Nearby parks and local trails will be able to join a regional network of open space.
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Trail Concept Specifics Sections Trail Usage Directions
Friends Group Funding/Construction Survey Partners Status Contact
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Trail Closure and Safety Notice
The Chester Valley Trail Phase 1 is under construction. The segment from Valley Creek Boulevard to Phoenixville Pike is anticipated to be completed in early July, 2010. The Phoenixville Pike to Route 29 segment is slated for construction in early September. To provide for a safe work environment during construction, the trail will be closed to recreational visitors. Thank you for your understanding as the trail is being developed and made ready for your enjoyment. |
Throughout Chester County and southeastern Pennsylvania, public trails enhance regional recreational opportunities.
In the Downingtown area, the Struble Trail winds north along the east branch of the Brandywine Creek from Kardon Park toward Marsh Creek State Park. In northern Chester County, the Horseshoe Trail stretches from Valley Forge to Harrisburg, passing through Warwick County Park. The Schuylkill River Trail, which begins in Philadelphia, is envisioned to travel as far north as Minersville, Schuylkill County. Montgomery County's Chester Valley Trail extension will begin at the Schuylkill Expressway and continue into Lower Merion Township, through Norristown and into Bucks County.
The Chester Valley Trail will be a valuable contribution to the region, serving as a backbone providing critical links to nearby parks and local trails in this dynamic regional network.
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TRAIL CONCEPTS
The Chester Valley Trail project dates back to 1991, when representatives of Chester County, Montgomery County and PennDOT envisioned a soon-to-be-abandoned rail line as a major trail. When completed it will link parks in Downingtown, Chester County's major commercial center at Exton, the Exton Park Site, the Chester County library, local trails, parks and communities in West Whiteland, East Whiteland, and Tredyffrin Townships in Chester County, and Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport and Norristown Boroughs in Montgomery County. The trail will also provide an important pedestrian and bicycle commuter route to many office parks in the Great Valley corridor.
The rail line roughly follows U.S. Routes 30 and 202 through central Chester County from East Caln Township east to Montgomery County, providing a major part of a regional trail system from central Chester County to the Schuylkill River Trail and Delaware River. The Phase I portion from Exton Park Site east to Route 29 is approximately 3.9 miles and the Phase II segment from Route 29 east to Warner Road in King of Prussia is 7.6 miles.
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Open space plans in Downingtown Borough, Tredyffrin, East and West Whiteland and Upper Merion Townships have suggested creating links to the Chester Valley Trail. Presently, there are nine municipal parks adjacent to the proposed trail right-of-way.
SPECIFICS
The fully-accessible trail will be paved and 10-12 feet wide in an approximately 66-foot wide right-of-way. Crosswalks will be provided at street crossings with bollards to slow trail traffic before the crossings and to restrict access by motorized vehicles.
The Phase 1 and 2 trail segments between the Schuylkill Expressway and Exton Park Site in West Whiteland Township will depart from the original rail line from Old Eagle School Road past Warner Road to Norristown and from Cedar Hollow Road to PA Route 29.
Access and parking will be provided at existing publicly-owned parks along the trail right-of-way and other public locations.
PennDOT built two culvert underpasses: one under PA Route 252 in Tredyffrin Township and one under Swedesford Road in East Whiteland Township. Additionally, PennDOT improvements to Route 202 corridor included provisions for the trail to cross under the Old Eagle School Road overpass.
Thirteen stone arch culverts, originally built to convey rail traffic over Little Valley Creek or its tributaries, need repairs such as masonry work and repointing.
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One of these culverts, immediately west of Route 29, has collapsed and will be replaced.
Three pedestrian bridges, 30-140 feet in length, are needed to cross streams, state roads and highways. Two existing overhead railroad bridges will require minor repairs.
A new culvert underpass will be constructed to provide a trail crossing beneath Warner Road in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.
Approximately 14 road crossings will be installed, including striping, signage and access controls.
County park rangers and local and state law enforcement will patrol the trail. Sections not yet open to the public are posted NO TRESPASSING. Security issues and maintenance are presently coordinated through Springton Manor Farm - (610) 942-2450.
County park facilities are open year round. Hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to sunset. In ice conditions and snow emergencies, they may be closed until parking and access areas are addressed. 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.
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SECTIONS
The trail begins at the Exton Park Site property, which was jointly purchased by Chester County and West Whiteland Township in 1994 near the Exton Square Mall. The segment extends 11.5 miles east to a point east of Warner Road in King of Prussia, where PennDOT and Montgomery County continue the trail east over the Schuylkill Expressway.
In August 1996, Chester County acquired a section beginning at Route 29 and ending west of the Exton Bypass. The County received the Certificate of Interim Trail Use (CITU) from the Federal Surface Transportation Board, which acknowledges county ownership of this portion through rail banking.
New Developments: On June 17, 2009, PennDOT agreed to transfer ownership of eight miles of the rail corridor to the County.
A two-mile demonstration portion is open between Church Farm School, in West Whiteland Township, and Battle of the Clouds Park in East Whiteland Township. A small section in Montgomery County between Warner Road and South Gulph Road in King of Prussia is open.
Additional areas completed and open, with paving, include the following:
1. An eight-tenths of a mile section between the westernmost portion of the Main Street at Exton shopping center, running east along the south side of Commerce Drive, crossing Route 100, and terminating at Iron Lake Boulevard. This completed area is west of the planned Phase I project. These areas were completed by Chester County and Raymour & Flanigan in 2004-05.
2. A seven-hundred foot section as part of the Malin Station residential development. This was completed by Pulte Homes in 2004.
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TRAIL USAGE
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.
2007 SURVEY
PERMITTED USES: Walking, jogging, cycling and scooters (non-motorized), in-line skating, cross-country skiing. Battery powered wheel chairs by persons with disabilities. Dog walking under leash. Strollers, including those connected to bicycles.
PROHIBITED USES: Motorized vehicles including motor vehicles (excluding authorized vehicles), motorcycles, powered scooters and snowmobiles. Skateboards. Equestrian use, including horseback riding or carriage use.
DIRECTIONS
Exton:
From the intersection of Business Route 30 and 100 in Exton, proceed east on Route 30 to Ship Road. Turn left onto Ship Road. Proceed to the traffic signal. Turn right onto Swedesford Road, then right onto Church Farm Lane. Follow Church Farm Lane until just before the intersection with the Chester Valley Trail. Posted Private Road signage does not apply to public trail users. Parking is permitted on the side of the gravel road that runs parallel to the trail. This provides access to the two-mile demonstration portion.
East Whiteland:
From Routes 202 and 401 (Conestoga Road), follow Route 401 southeast. Travel approximately 0.2 miles and turn right into the driveway to East Whiteland Townships municipal building. Park in designated parking spaces on the left and rear of the municipal building, adjacent to the trail.
FUNDING & CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) FY09 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) is the region's agreed-upon list of priority projects for which federal funds are anticipated. The Chester Valley Trail project was programmed on the adopted FY09 TIP with $24.72 million of federal, state, and local funds for completion of the 12-mile project from Exton Park Site east to Montgomery County (Phase I and Phase II). Additionally, the FY09 TIP was amended in 2009 to reflect programming of $5 million of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the construction of Phase I.
The Chester County Facilities Management Department is the projects lead agency for design and construction of the trail. On behalf of PennDOT, the DVRPC administers the Federal Project Funds; prepares all agreements and contracts; bids the construction project, and provides technical assistance. The project is being managed as a federally funded PennDOT project, requiring that all processes, procedures and documentation follow Federal Highway Administration and PennDOT's accepted practices and standards.
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PARTNERS
The Chester Valley Trail project is a partnership that involves inter-agency cooperation on many levels, including local, state and federal governments, area businesses and local residents, all committed to seeing it through to completion. The trail, in its multiple phases, affects the municipalities of East Caln, East and West Whiteland and Tredyffrin Townships and Downingtown Borough in Chester County, as well as Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport and Norristown Boroughs in Montgomery County.
TRAIL STATUS
(Revised September 2009)
The Chester County Bridge Crew has recently completed maintenance and repair work to four existing culverts with assistance from Chester County Parks and Recreation Department staff. Click the link below to see before and after pictures of the repaired culverts:
Culvert #1 west of Church Road in East Whiteland Township
Culvert #3 west of Route 29 in East Whiteland Township
Culvert #4a east of Cedar Hollow Road in Tredyffrin Township
Culvert #5 east of Cedar Hollow Road in Tredyffrin Township
Culvert #10 - west of West Valley Road in Tredyffrin Township
Culvert #11 - west of West Valley Road in Tredyffrin Township
A new concrete bridge over the Chester Valley Trail has been installed by a private developer to provide access from Swedesford Road to Whiteland Village, a new Continuing Care Retirement Community in East Whiteland Township. Work will be finalized in 2010.
Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Control Plans have been approved by the Chester County Conservation District. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has approved a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to allow trail construction.
On July 9, 2009, PennDOT advertised the bid request for Phase I of the project, through its online, ECMS system. Bids were opened on July 30, 2009, and are currently being evaluated. The start of Phase I construction is anticipated in October 2009. Construction of the Phase I section is anticipated by late summer, 2010.
September 1, 2009 - Chester County has entered into a $3,261,542 contract agreement with C. Abbonizio Contractors, Inc. of Sewell, N.J. to construct the first phase of the Chester Valley Trail in East Whiteland Township, Chester County. The project is financed entirely by federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
CONTACT
All open segments of the trail are managed and maintained by the Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation. To report any maintenance or management concerns, contact: Ian Currie, Regional Park Superintendent, Springton Manor Farm; Telephone: 610-942-2450 x222;
Email: icurrie@chesco.org.
FRIENDS OF THE CHESTER VALLEY TRAIL
The department is looking for a group of volunteers interested in forming a Friends Group for the Chester Valley Trail. Construction of Phase I of the Trail, from Exton to Route 29, is underway and is targeted for completion in August of 2010.
The Group would be dedicated to all things related to the TraiL. Initial objectives would be:
· Alerting the Department to emerging conflicts or problems along the trail;
· Providing assistance in reducing trail maintenance costs or providing additional amenities, with volunteer projects;
· Acting as a conduit for suggesting improvements;
· Working with the department and commercial businesses to make adjoining shops more trail-friendly.
In particular, we are looking for representation from: local municipalities (two townships at present); recreational groups (bicyclists, hiking and jogging clubs); commercial businesses in adjoining shopping centers; and residents and representatives from large neighborhoods or homeowners associations, or who use the trail regularly.
For more information, contact Parks and Recreation Board member Ben LaGarde at blagarde2@gmail.com.
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Content Last Modified on 1/11/2010 10:13:19 AM
