Capital Trails Coalition: DDOT Oversight Hearing Testimony 2026

The Capital Trails Coalition is a collaboration of more than 80 organizations, government agencies, and volunteers. We are working to advance the completion and activation of an interconnected network of more than a thousand miles of multi-use trails for people of all ages and abilities across the metropolitan Washington, DC region.

You can view this document in PDF form here.

Good morning Chair Allen and members of the Transportation and Environment Committee:

I’m Kalli Krumpos and I am here on behalf of the Capital Trails Coalition. The Capital Trails Coalition is a collaboration of more than 80 organizations, government agencies, and volunteers. We are working to advance the completion and activation of an interconnected network of more than a thousand miles of multi-use trails for people of all ages and abilities across the metropolitan Washington, DC region.

We’re celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year and we have a lot to celebrate, including progress for trails in DC.

DC has many great multi-use trails, totalling nearly 70 miles, that create safe corridors for community members to walk, bike, and roll for active transportation and recreation.

During the NACTO Summit last May, transportation planners from across the country lauded DC’s efforts to create safe routes for all travel modes and we’re thankful for the commitment and ongoing work from DDOT and the administration. We know that continued attention to building out safe infrastructure will help ensure that the District remains a leader across the country.

Over the past year, we celebrated DDOT’s work to complete the extension of the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Takoma to Fort Totten and applaud their work to advance plans for other trail projects including

the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Blair Road to Piney Branch Road,
The Galloway Street Trail,
The Michigan Avenue Sidepath,
The Mississippi Ave Oxon Run Connector Trail,
the Arizona Avenue to Capital Crescent Trail Connector,
and Arboretum Bridge to Maryland Ave Connector.

These trails aren’t just lines on a map. They’re linear parks and community connectors. They create low stress options for anyone to get around and help improve our community’s health by providing an active option and accessible greenspace.

The experience of trail users is critical to their success, and we thank DDOT for their efforts to improve the experiences and safety of trail users on the Metropolitan Branch Trail through the safe speed pilot

And we thank DDOT for their work to ensure that drivers do not access the MBT by installing barriers at the trail access points at R Street NE, Randolph Street NE, S Street NE, and T Street NE, after two drivers were seen operating vehicles on the trail earlier this month.

Despite this progress, many projects are long delayed. In November 2021, the DC Council passed a resolution (Resolution ACR24-0105) recognizing the Capital Trails Coalition’s goal to complete the top 40 priority projects by 2025, and the full network of trails by 2030.

We’re now in 2026 and we missed that goal with several priority projects far from completed, including the New York Avenue Trail, South Capitol Street Trail, Eastern Avenue Trail, Shepherd Branch Trail, and others.

DDOT plays a leading role in designing and implementing trails in the District and we urge them to remain focused on building out the Capital Trail Network, as outlined in Strategy 22 in the moveDC Plan which call for improving safe options for active, sustainable transportation and to better connect key points of interest like jobs, schools, grocery stores, parks, and more.

We acknowledge that many of these incompleted projects depend on DDOT’s negotiations with federal entities and other stakeholders to move projects forward, including the U.S. National Park Service, CSX, and the Architect of the Capitol. We encourage DDOT to continue and to prioritize those discussions to move priority trail projects forward,

especially the Shepherd Branch Trail, Louisiana Avenue connection, South Capitol Street Trail, and the Arboretum Bridge and Trail. We are excited about these long-awaited opportunities to better connect the District and the region and hope your continued efforts will speed up negotiations.

We call on DDOT to keep up these discussions to fill gaps and better connect the District and the region via trails. Not to mention that other priority trails are desperately in need of rehabilitation and safety improvement, especially the Suitland Parkway Trail, which is currently an unsafe and unwelcoming experience for trail users, but it is not slated for construction for several years.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kalli Krumpos

Capital Trails Coalition

More about Trails

Trails are the best. They are low-stress bike infrastructure, access to nature, parks, landmarks, and community gathering spaces all rolled into one.

WABA's trail advocacy is focused on connecting gaps in our region's trail network; ensuring existing trails are maintained and upgraded to meet current design standards; and expanding the network into underserved parts of the region.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.