This is our 18th Greenbelt East Trail Newsletter. If you're new to the project, our website for Friends of the Greenbelt East Trail is www.greenbeltnasatrail.org for background info.

Here's the latest news:

1. Friends of the Greenbelt East Trail (www.greenbeltnasatrail.org) will be presenting at the Greenbelt Advisory Planning Board (APB) at 7pm tonight (December 6) in room 114 at the Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road. I believe this meeting is open to the public, although not necessarily open for public comment.
2. That video at the top is my thrilling presentation at the Greenbelt Community Development Corp's annual meeting last month. Thanks to Greenbelt Access TV and John from the GHI bike committee for the fine 30-minute edit! Here's a direct link to the video: https://youtu.be/pfQ_RRR4WGE?feature=shared
3. Watching the video is a bit sad for us Greenbelters, since it shows our great discussion with councilmember Ric Gordon, who passed away in late November. His advocacy for safer biking and walking in Greenbelt will be hard to replace.
4. Friends of the GET will also be presenting at Greenbelt's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) on December 20th at 7pm (virtual). Again, I believe that meeting is also public, but it may not have public comments on the agenda. Here's the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87019927364
5. At the grand opening of the Hyattsville Trolley Trail Extension yesterday, MDOT advised us that the Greenbelt East Trail feasibility study for "Sector 2" (in front of NASA from the Greenbelt city limit to Good Luck Road) is still on track for completion late this month, but that the feasibility study for the whole trail from Eleanor Roosevelt HS to the WB&A Trailhead at the Glenn Dale Splash Park will likely be delayed until early next year.
6. Our next stakeholders call is scheduled for 12-1pm on Friday, December 15th. Please reply to this email if you haven't received an invite and would like to join.

MDOT announces new bike and pedestrian safety initiatives

District 22 reps Anne Healey and Ashanti Martinez meet with SHA head William Pines

The official ribbon cutting for the trolley trail extension to connect with the Anacostia River Trails

The Hyattsville Trolley Trail Extension -- It's Great, But...

That rendering just above was from 2016, when WABA's Prince George's Action Committee first launched our campaign to fully connect the Hyattsville trolley trail with the Anacostia River Trails via a sidepath alongside Route 1. I don't recall the exact date, but I know it preceded our trail walk with then-Senator Paul Pinsky, which was in August 2016. So it has been at least 7 years from the start of that campaign to the ribbon cutting.

WTOP reports that the the total cost of the project was about $6 million. Of course that included lots of stormwater drainage and water main replacement costs that we wouldn't have to deal with (hopefully!) for the Greenbelt East Trail.

In the coming years, Maryland's budget for transportation projects will likely be tight all around. We think the Greenbelt East Trail could be done much more quickly and at a lower overall cost. I used an MDOT calculator to estimate that the materials and design/construction cost for the GET should less than $2 million. And since the GET would use moveable materials like curbstops and flexposts, it could be adjusted or improved over time if new businesses and housing developments were built.

The best way to reduce traffic congestion is to allow those of us who don't want to drive a safe alternative. At the very least, MDOT should approve a "quick build" option for the section of the GET that runs in front of NASA in 2024.

Our Motto: "Less than 2 Years, Less than $2 Million, Start Sector 2 now!" Let's get this project done and show what's possible in Prince George's County!

Full Trail Resources:

• Friends of the Greenbelt East Trail basics
• Street View of the proposed route
• Preliminary Cost Estimate (full trail)
• MDOT SHA Feasibility Study Letter
• Prince George's County Support Letter
• Greenbelt Support Letter
• County Council Request Letter (Eric Olson, Ingrid Watson)

Sector 2 (NASA) Resources:

• Cost Estimate for Sector 2
• Rough Route Slides Starting at Sector 2
• Draft Expedite Sector 2 Letter Template
• Trail Walk Video Starting at Sector 2

Our community partners in this effort are the City of Greenbelt, WABA, ATHA, the East Coast Greenway, the Greenbelt Community Development Corp., and the Glenn Dale Citizens Association. Would your company or organization like to help the trail effort? Please use reply to this newsletter or email us at info@greenbeltnasatrail.org for more info. -Jeff